Bus Vannin cost savings

Summary

The requester asked for specific cost savings figures for Bus Vannin's Connect Villages service by financial year, but the Department of Infrastructure provided a qualitative explanation of savings mechanisms and average annual figures instead of a year-by-year breakdown.

Key Facts

• The North Island bus network changed in 2019/20, replacing large scheduled buses with demand-responsive minibuses.
• Savings were achieved by moving larger vehicles to the South route, increasing frequency and revenue by approximately 2%.
• Fuel efficiency improved significantly, with Sprinter minibuses averaging 24 mpg compared to 8 mpg or less for large buses.
• Driver costs were reduced because the new vehicles required a lesser licence, lowering hourly rates from over £20 to over £11.
• Patronage on these services grew from an average of 1,000 to 3,000 per month, though revenue growth was limited by free concessionary travel.

Data Disclosed

• 2019/20
• 17 and 19
• 3 Sprinter minibuses
• 3 large buses
• 5 times a day
• 1000 per month
• 3000 per month
• 20 and 15 minutes
• 2%
• 24 mpg
• 8 mpg
• £1.30 per litre
• 300 mile per week
• £11,505 per annum per vehicle
• £3,835
• £20+ per hour
• £11+ per hour
• £5772 per driver plus on costs per annum

Original Request

Can you provide the cost savings made by Bus Vannin by removing scheduled buses and replacing with Connect Villages buses in each of the Financial Years since commencement of Connect Villages service.

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Department of Infrastructure Sea Terminal Building, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 2RF

Contact: FOI Response Team Telephone: (01624) 686785 Email: dpo-doi@gov.im

Our ref: 3857429 10 June 2024

Dear ###

We write further to your request, received 14 May 2024, which states:

"Can you provide the cost savings made by Bus Vannin by removing scheduled buses and replacing with Connect Villages buses in each of the Financial Years since commencement of Connect Villages service."

Our response to your request is as follows: I have detailed below the information that is being released to you:

The network in the North of the Island fundamentally changed for 2019/20, when larger bus services were replaced by demand responsive minibus services. They replaced scheduled non school service buses such the 17 and 19. Demand responsive services introduced the ability to run vehicles only when demand required, supported by back office scheduling software. The network ran on three Sprinter minibuses, initially replacing three large buses.
FLEX was introduced later that year after customer and political feedback, this fixed routing 5 times a day increases operational cost as the vehicle may operate without any bookings and may also be full and unable to pick up as it sits outside the software scheduling. Savings remain due to the vehicle type being used. Patronage on average for these services was less than a 1000 per month, DRT has seen this grow to an average of 3000. Due to the demographic this has not seen the revenue growth as the majority travel on FREE Go Silver concessionary cards.

The savings have come from the following:

• Larger capacity vehicles moved to operate on the South route enabling an increase in frequency to 20 and 15 minutes and an annual increase in revenue of approx. 2% • Sprinter minibus average 24 mpg rather than the 8 mpg or less achieved in large buses
o On an average £1.30 per litre, 300 mile per week - this was reduces the fuel expense from £11,505 per annum per vehicle to £3,835 • Demand transport reduces the mileage operated without fare paying passengers on board, therefore decreasing mileage operated and saving unnecessary running costs. • Due to the driver requiring a lesser licence to drive, staff hourly rates decreased from a max £20+ per hour to £11+ at the commencement of service

o An average of £5772 per driver plus on costs per annum was saved in payroll

The figures can be applied for each financial year as the principle remains the same

Please quote the reference number 3857429 in any future communications.

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I will now close your request as of this date.