If not too late (was not around at weekend so did not check forum) Essex & Cambridgeshire please.

This is a totally stupid situation - any other country in the world (well most developed countries) are trying to encourage use of public transport, and provide this sort of information for FREE on 0800 numbers (or equivalents).

I was in Canada recently and when I was waiting for a bus I saw the sign on the bus stop which advised of their 1800 number for public transport enquiries. The fact that we have to dial a premium rate number for the same service really stinks of rip-off Britain.

Alas, this is only one of hundreds of examples of 1800 numbers in North America, and 084/7 ones here.


MS

In a related move, GMPTE (which for some time has been phasing out all mention of its geographical travel enquiry number 0161 228 7811 on timetables, bus stops, etc in favour of the Traveline 0870 (soon to be 0871)) has now introduced an 0871 number instead of 0161 for paper copies of timetables:

http://www.gmpte.com/content.cfm?category_id=102784

This is how GMPTE (quite dishonestly, in my view) replied to my complaints last year about the phasing out of publicity for the 0161 number in favour of Traveline:

January 2006 Our Ref: CR8248


RE: - 0870 traveline number

Thank you for your e-mail dated 09/01/06:  to answers to your questions are addressed below:

1. 0870 608 2 608 and 0870 241 2 216 (the equivalent minicom service) are the only telephone numbers that GMPTE use that has a prefix of 0870 or 0845.  You can dial 0161 228 7811 to access GMPTE public transport information.  This is a local number that gives people access to Greater Manchester information at normal local, national or international call rates depending on where they call from.

2. The advantage of the 0870 number is that it enables one number to be used nationwide rather than have a number of local numbers. GMPTE is part of the national Traveline service that uses the 0870 number.

The national service was set up to meet national government policies to create a single source of local transport information on a national basis. The 0870 number also enables calls to be forwarded to another region to complete the local transport information element of long distance journeys.

The relevant policies are

* "Getting timetable and connection information is vital for many passengers. We are keen to see a national integrated journey timetable set up. The best way forward is to develop a framework, which builds on information already available and draws on new information schemes as they become available. Passengers would access information through one enquiry point, even though information would be drawn from different sources." (White Paper New Deal for Transport July1998 page 52 para 3.73)  

* "Better arrangements at local level are essential to develop a national public transport information system, building on voluntary collaboration between various parties. The aim is for passengers to have easy access to comprehensive information on all modes, including rail, bus, coach and metro, from a single telephone call. "(DETR Integrated Transport "From Workhorse to Thoroughbred" Mar 99 page 32).

* "Our aim is for a public transport system to be systematically extended across the country by 2000. The initial focus will be on timetable information, but the framework will be developed with the aim of introducing information on fares."(Transport White Paper para 3.74)

3. GMPTE receives no rebate for calls on the 0870 numbers below. All rebates are ploughed back into running the service and developing new products for the delivery of information services, such as the internet Journey Planner (gmpte.com), this is an area that is steadily increasing in demand and the costs for this are far cheaper than any telephone charge, if we were to look for funding to develop such products then it is possible it would be from levy funding that we all already pay for through our local charges  

4. British Telecommunications plc is the network provider for 0870 608 2 608 and 0870 241 2 216 (minicom service).

5. We are a local government organisation. The "Central Office of Information" gives guidance to Central Government and public bodies. We have not seen this COI advice before and not discussed it within GMPTE. However, we believe that we serve the public well by giving them the choice of phoning either the national number (0870 608 2 608) or the local number (0161 228 7811); about 70% of our calls for public transport information are on the local number. Through having the two services, we believe we meet the COI guidance.  The Department for Transport are aware of the use of the 0870 number and have raised no objections to it.  

Yours sincerely,

Gary Hawthorne
Information Manager

No wonder they have a smiling logo with that amount of income.
But again I question why they have to be dishonest about revenue share. Surely PRS 09X would be quite in order for providing a service.

Just spotted the bus shelters in Glasgow are gradually changing over to advertise the 0871 service, with no pricing advice.

My latest bus timetable has the 0871 number listed several times, with no pricing info - surely this can't be right. The bus company in question is Arriva Scotland West Ltd, and the timetable dated 5/3/07.

EDIT - and www.travelinescotland.com has the following: "Traveline also provides a telephone service available by calling 0871 200 22 33*. Lines are open from 7am to 10pm 7 days a week. Calls are charged at national call rate." This can't be allowed surely?

Dave wrote on May 6^th, 2007 at 2:00pm:


Thanks for that. I had no idea that there wasn't a requirement for a price next to an 0871 - that's really shocking.

jgxenite wrote on May 6^th, 2007 at 9:14pm:

0871 2xx xxxx numbers are charged at 10p/minute at all times from BT residential landlines (g7 rate).

http://www.downloads.bt.com/pricing/SpecialisedNos.pdf