Fair enough. I believe fares have been held lower (daily cap introduced and £2 cap extended into 2025) in Manchester, and maybe frequencies increased…..what I don’t know is what the consequences have been for revenues, whether similar things have been done in other areas, and whether those steps could have been taken without franchising.
Looking at DfT light rail / tram statistics, growth over 2022/23 to 2024/25 is around 28% for Manchester, 10% for Tyne and Wear, 9% Nottingham, 8% Sheffield, 6% Docklands, minus 10% Blackpool, minus 18% Croydon. West Midlands is an outlier with an increase of over 60%. I understand that this latter figure reflects major system expansion, rather than like-for like growth. There may also be special factors affecting the figures for other systems, but the results may also suggest that something about the broader context in Manchester has driven demand for both bus and tram use.
Do we know whether the revenue subsidy (ignoring transitional costs)has increased more in Manchester than other areas over the period?
Think tricky to know as 24-25 was still a transitional year - will need to wait a few years for true picture!
Fair enough. I believe fares have been held lower (daily cap introduced and £2 cap extended into 2025) in Manchester, and maybe frequencies increased…..what I don’t know is what the consequences have been for revenues, whether similar things have been done in other areas, and whether those steps could have been taken without franchising.
Looking at DfT light rail / tram statistics, growth over 2022/23 to 2024/25 is around 28% for Manchester, 10% for Tyne and Wear, 9% Nottingham, 8% Sheffield, 6% Docklands, minus 10% Blackpool, minus 18% Croydon. West Midlands is an outlier with an increase of over 60%. I understand that this latter figure reflects major system expansion, rather than like-for like growth. There may also be special factors affecting the figures for other systems, but the results may also suggest that something about the broader context in Manchester has driven demand for both bus and tram use.
Interesting! Bit chicken and egg as to whether transport growth causing economic growth or other way round but definitely related in some way.