Competition and ownership strategies for the provision of land passenger transport, primarily bus and rail, continues to be topical and important in the reform of the transport sector throughout the world. The Fourth International Conference on Competition and Ownership in Land Passenger Transport, held in Rotorua, New Zealand, in 1995, brought together 120 individuals from many nations to debate the pros and cons of alternative paradigms of service and facility provision. Workshops were convened under five themes: (1) Competitive models and impacts; (2) User requirements; (3) Rail sector issues; (4) Regulatory reform and transport policy development; and (5) International experiences in competitive operations. This two-part article summarizes the debate and recommendations emanating from the five workshops, providing a synthesis of key issues currently facing governments, regulators and operators. (A)
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