This report concerns a study of transport arrangements to two Northampton industrial estates where, in the absence of an adequate conventional stage bus network, various forms of works service play an important role in providing transport: the work aimed to improve understanding of their operation. There were many services, each one confined to employees of a single company and, with one exception, loss-making. The nature of the demand for them was different from that noted previously in more rural locations: to take account of this an existing demand model was recalibrated. The recalibrated model was subsequently used to investigate several means of improving cost efficiency. While, in theory, these seemed likely to be effective they turned out to be unattractive to the companies concerned; the reasons are discussed. Overall findings highlight the need for effective advice to be given at an early stage to employers setting up their own services, particularly in view of the probable continued decline of conventional stage bus services. (Author/publisher)
Abstract