If congestion charging goes ahead and new trains and buses are provided, who will own them, asked T Davies (November 10).
Bus operators are presently free to operate under registration whichever pattern of services they deem profitable. If public authorities want extra services, they will have to make contracts for bus operators to provide them. It will be up to the operators how they provide and finance extra services. It would be surprising if they did anything other than spread the cost of extra vehicles over the lifetime of the contract.
Trains are different. No operating companies own any of the rolling stock. All of the trains on our privatised railways are owned by one of three rolling stock companies (known as ROSCOs) — even old British Rail trains.
Train operating companies lease them from ROSCOs and normal practice would be to include the lease cost in the contract to run the additional services.
Metrolink financing is different. It is owned by GMPTE but operated under contract by a private operator. The new extensions will follow the same pattern.
Why should we pay? Simple. We have a privatised public transport system which only does profitable things. If we want extra, we have to pay extra.
They could renationalise the railways and buses but don’t hold your breath.
Peter Johnston
Kendal Road
Bolton
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