In order to clarify the new powers and responsibilities regarding regional public transport, the province of Gelderland has defined five franchise areas. The IGO Plus project was developed for the franchise area Achterhoek. The main feature of the project is that the train (the Zutphen-Winterswijk and Winterswijk-Doetinchem-Arnhem lines) has become the backbone of public transport in this regional area and that the bus supplements the train service with rapid connecting services, convenient local services and feeders connecting to the train. The project is intended to produce the following effects: an improved public transport product at constant costs; substantial transport growth; improvement in the modal split; and improved cost-effectiveness. In advance of the policy of contracting out public transport (by tendering), as an experiment the minister allowed operation of IGO Plus to be awarded privately to the new Syntus transport company. Initially, the province had awarded a licence for a period of 2 x 5 years. The licence was extended for the second five-year period as early as 2001 so that Syntus could acquire new light rail rolling stock. An annually applicable penalty scheme was introduced from 2004 onwards. In addition, operating the train service, in particular, has become cheaper thanks to the use of light rail rolling stock. This efficiency advantage has been converted into a better level of provision. The new network has so far led to growth of approx. 15% in the number of passengers. The agreement reached with Syntus assumes a (fixed) operating subsidy for the train service. In other respects, the operating risk is borne entirely by the transporter. In terms of train services and the main axes of bus transport, the province has determined the frequencies and operating times which must be offered. In general, these are half-hourly services, whereas they were mainly hourly services under the old structure. As Syntus cannot pursue its own pricing policy, the company lacks an important means of influencing its income and is restricted in its commercial development. The early introduction of a public transport smart card, with applicable pricing freedoms, is considered of great importance for the province of Gelderland and Syntus. For the covering abstract see ITRD E126595.
Samenvatting