Service 28 - Cregneash

Summary

The requester asked for financial viability figures, ticket breakdowns, costs, and schedules for the discontinued Service 28 bus route to Cregneash. The Department of Infrastructure partially upheld the request, releasing passenger statistics, ticket values, estimated operational costs, and historical service schedules.

Key Facts

• Passenger numbers for Service 28 dropped from 3,202 in 2019 to 929 in 2023.
• The service was not operated during the Isle of Man TT period.
• Estimated daily operating costs for a small vehicle are at least £220, including labour, fuel, and overheads.
• In 2019, the service ran seven days a week from March to October using full-size buses.
• Ticket types include zero-value concession cards (Silver, Gold, Privilege) and prepaid options (Explore, Places, Easy).
• The response notes that driver wages have increased to £15/hr with weekend premiums up to £20.03.

Data Disclosed

• 3202
• 929
• 2019
• 2023
• 2024
• £1.90
• £1.00
• £15/hr
• £20.03
• £160
• £212
• £50
• £25
• £35
• £220
• 8 MPG
• 22 MPG
• March to October
• 10:30 to 16:30
• 11:10 to 17:30

Original Request

Dear Sir/Madam, I would like a copy of the figures used to show that the bus service 28 to Cregneash is not financially viable. Please include the quoted 2019 & 2023 figures and any other supporting information. Please include a break down of the tickets INCLUDING concessions and prepaid tickets. Please include the value of the tickets. Please include the cost of running the service, per journey and per day. Please include the schedule for the days of reference including number of buses, times of buses and days on which they ran and the period over which they ran. Many thanks,

Data Tables (2)

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: 3997489 29 July 2024

Dear ###

We write further to your request, received 19 July 2024, which states:

"Dear Sir/Madam,

I would like a copy of the figures used to show that the bus service 28 to Cregneash is not financially viable.

Please include the quoted 2019 & 2023 figures and any other supporting information.

Please include a break down of the tickets INCLUDING concessions and prepaid tickets.

Please include the value of the tickets.

Please include the cost of running the service, per journey and per day.

Please include the schedule for the days of reference including number of buses, times of buses and days on which they ran and the period over which they ran.

Many thanks,"

Response: Information held

All the information you have requested has been released to you within this response letter. Please proceed to the next page for the information.

“Please include the quoted 2019 & 2023 figures and any other supporting information”

2023

2019

ADSL 218

653

CHSL 38 256 Fare Paying 256 27.56% 909 28.39% Saver 85

440

Explore 368 1367 Places 8 17 Platinum 4 4 Easy 4 39 Prepaid 469 50.48% 1867 58.31% Punch 13 35 Silver 182 374 Gold 5 10 Privilege 4 7 Concession 204 21.96% 426 13.30% Total Pax 929 3202

“Please include a break down of the tickets INCLUDING concessions and prepaid tickets.”

As per above table:

ADSL = Adult Single ticket CHSL = Child Single ticket Go Saver = discounted per journey day card
Go Explore = pre paid visitor ticket for Bus and Rail, 20% to Bus Go Places = multi journey pre-paid card Go Platinum = Annual card Go Easy = 28 day pre paid card Punch = zero value group travel, to record travel Go Silver = zero value concession card Go Gold = zero value concession card Go Privilege = zero value staff card

“Please include the value of the tickets.”

Breakdown 2019/2023 (£) 2024 (£) ADSL = Adult Single ticket 1.90 from Port Erin No service CHSL = Child Single ticket 1.00 from Port Erin No service Go Saver = discounted per journey day card 7/16/19/23 7.50/18/24/29 Go Explore = pre paid visitor ticket for Bus and Rail, 20% to Bus 17/34/41/50 21/42/49/59 Go Places = multi journey pre-paid card 1.10 1.40 Go Platinum = Annual card 800 850 Go Easy = 28 day pre paid card 80 90 Punch = zero value group travel, to record travel 0 0 Go Silver = zero value concession card 0 0 Go Gold = zero value concession card 0 0 Go Privilege = zero value staff card 0 0

“Please include the cost of running the service, per journey and per day.”

There are many variables in cost, in 2019 the vehicle used was a full-size bus averaging 8 Mile Per Gallon (MPG), for 2024 consideration based on safe access and vehicle availability would likely result in a minibus being used running in excess of 22MPG.

Driver wages also vary, in 2019 wages were lower than the current £15/hr, on costs increase the hourly rate as does premium rates at weekends being up to £20.03 (plus on costs). Driver availability is also not as easy, and the operation would not be sustainable if operated as overtime.

The daily rate is based on the following:

• Driver (hourly rate plus on costs) x duty length x fuel used (dependant on vehicle)

On a six-return journey duty the following estimated cost (due to variables would apply):

• £160 approx. labour per day Mon – Fri, £212 approx. labour at weekend • £50 approx. fuel per day in a full-size bus, £25 approx. fuel per day in a minibus (consumption affected by loadings, driver style, price per litre and terrain) • £35 per day on average for overheads such as depreciation, maintenance, tax, licencing etc could also be added • At least £220 or above to operate one small vehicle

“Please include the schedule for the days of reference including number of buses, times of buses and days on which they ran and the period over which they ran.”

In 2018/9 the service ran seven days a week March to October– six departures Monday to Friday, six departures from Port Erin and returns from Calf / Sound (10:30 to 16:30 Port Erin departures) at the weekend, except Sunday and Public Holidays when an additional trip was covered. The service started slightly later and finish approx. an hour later (11:10 to 17:30 Port Erin departures).

In 2019/20 the service remained operating a similar timetable however services operated April to October, the last Monday to Friday from Port St Mary and five minutes later departing Port Erin on Saturday.

Operation was completed on an overtime basis with two staff operating two full size single deck vehicles, no service was operated during TT fortnight.

Please quote the reference number 3997489 in any future communications.

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Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.