Disappointed transport chiefs issue challenge to bus operators

South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE) welcomed new figures from independent public transport watchdog Passenger Focus, which were released earlier this month.

But officers said they were not impressed to find that only 86 per cent of bus passengers were satisfied with each journey they make with the county's private bus operators.

In recent surveys undertaken by SYPTE the satisfaction figures were even worse, with less than four out of 10 passengers saying that they regularly received an satisfactory journey.

The executive's director of customer experience, David Young, said only one operator, Sheffield Community Transport, had given consistently good service according to the survey.

He added: "We are disappointed that over one out of every 10 bus passengers in South Yorkshire are not satisfied on each bus journey. We challenge bus operators to come forward with concrete plans to raise their standards and provide customers with the journey experience they deserve.

"Congratulations, however, to Sheffield Community Transport who achieved 98 per cent customer satisfaction – if they can please almost all of their customers, then why can't other operators?

"We urge them to focus on the areas where customers are particularly dissatisfied – namely, the frequency of buses, value for money, punctuality and the smoothness of the ride."

SYPTE said the Passenger Focus research reinforced its resolve to continue with a series of consultation events throughout July on its Vision for buses in Rotherham and Sheffield.

The exercise aims to build on a similar consultation which took place earlier in the year which set out plans to improve the local bus network in Doncaster.

Members of the public can look at SYPTE's proposals in more detail by visiting www.busvision.co.uk and are invited to email [email protected] or call 0800 028 8141 with their views.

Passengers can also write to SYPTE at Freepost Bus Vision. No stamp is required. All responses must be received by September 3.