Overhaul for bus services in bid to tempt drivers out of their cars

An agreement set to be signed this morning will launch a "Statutory Quality Partnership Scheme" (SQPS) for Barnsley Interchange, the town centre and the A61 Wakefield Road.

The aim of the scheme is to encourage more people to use buses by improving the quality, reliability, accessibility and journey times of bus services.

In order to sign up to the agreement, bus companies have to ensure their vehicles adhere to minimum standards.

As a result, more than 120 buses have already been revamped and improvements have also already been made at Barnsley Interchange and 30 bus stops throughout the town centre.

The SQPS agreement will be signed at Barnsley Town Hall today by the leader of Barnsley Council, Councillor Stephen Houghton; chairman of the South Yorkshire Integrated Transport Authority (SYITA), Councillor Mick Jameson; Philip Coppard, the chief executive of Barnsley Council; and David Brown, the director general of the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE).

Coun Houghton said: "It is important that a town the size of Barnsley has a good transport infrastructure and an accessible, modern public transport system plays a major part in this.

"By signing this document, all partners are committing themselves to delivering a high-quality bus system, from passenger facilities to route and traffic management, which can only benefit the people of the borough."

Mr Brown added: "We want to make bus travel more attractive for customers and potential bus users.

"The SQPS for Barnsley and the A61 Wakefield Road will help deliver a step change in quality and reliability of bus services and this improvement will make buses an even better option."

This is only the second SQPS to be launched in England, under the powers given by the Transport Act 2000, the first one being in north Sheffield.

In its first year the north Sheffield scheme saw the numbers of people using buses leap by more than nine per cent.

Numerous works have already taken place in Barnsley, prior to the agreement being signed.

These improvements include revamping and renovating Barnsley Interchange with 22 accessible bus stands, automated vehicle-activated doors, "real time" passenger information, CCTV, an information centre and new shops.

Bus stops at 30 locations in the town centre have also been equipped with raised kerbs and "tactile" paving to make boarding easier for passengers.

Work is still to take place on the A61 Wakefield Road to improve journey times for buses.

In return for introducing these improvements, SYPTE and Barnsley Council have specified minimum standards which all buses using the facilities must meet.

These include more than 120 low-floor vehicles meeting national accessibility standards, low-emission buses on all routes, CCTV cameras on board for passenger safety, well-presented buses and training for drivers to enable them to gain NVQ qualifications.

Paul Lynch, managing director of Stagecoach Yorkshire, the main bus operator in Barnsley, said: "Since 2006, Stagecoach Yorkshire has invested almost 15m in 150 low-floor, low-emission buses and, from 2008 to 2009, almost 130 drivers achieved their NVQ qualifications.

"We hope the Barnsley SQPS scheme will build on our achievements by encouraging even more people out of cars and onto public transport."