Harrogate Coach Travel Ltd, which operates Connexionsbuses, has been fined for poor punctuality following a Public Inquiry (PI), Harrogate News reported.
The PI was called to look at the findings following monitoring the punctuality of services. A 10-day survey by the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) had been undertaken between November 14, 2016 and November 25, 2016. They looked at the bus routes 8, 38, X52, X6, 940, X70 and 13.
Following the survey of 149 Connexionsbuses, five failed to arrive, eight were more than one minute early and 34 were more than five minutes late – a non-compliance rate of 30%.
At the PI, the validity of the recorded data was challenged by Connexionsbuses. The operator questioned whether data was recorded for both arrival and departure at a stop, and claimed a one minute early arrival with a departure on time could have been recorded as non-compliance. Connexionsbuses also said that the times recorded in the survey did not always correlate with its own data from its GPS based ticket machines.
Connexionsbuses claimed mitigation for the late arrivals due to a Christmas Market, unscheduled road works and road accidents.
Managing Director for Connexionsbuses, Jonathan Craig Temple, spoke at the PI, saying that the company prides itself on offering a reliable and friendly service, aiming to fill gaps in service. Mr Temple said that the Christmas Market had created a lot of delays, but was told he had known that it was happening.
Deputy Traffic Commissioner Miles Dorrington concluded that the sampling of bus times was sufficient and representative, the Christmas Market is a known factor every year, so should have been considered by Connexionsbuses and even if the punctuality figures were adjusted based on the firm’s challenge, they still remain less than 95%. He decided it was appropriate to apply a proportionate fine of £50 per vehicle, or £1700 in total, payable within 42 days.
