Integration Between Bus and Light Rapid Transit on Midland Metro Line 1

Abstract

It had been intended, when the proposed paper was submitted, to report on the first attempts at bus/LRT interchange on the new Midland Metro, and on the response of private sector bus operators who could, should the interchange not be perceived as meeting users’ needs, take over the provision of through bus services parallel to the new line. Delays in the opening of this new metro meant that evidence was not available at the time of writing, but even so there is other less direct evidence that can shed light on the general issue of integration in a de-regulated environment. The focus of the paper is upon how the users’ wishes for a seamless journey can best be reconciled with the requirements of the concessionaire and other operators working in an environment where some degree of competition takes place.