PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN THE PROVINCE OF LIMBURG (NL)

an example of how a PPP can work to the benefit of citizens, local authorities and the market

Public Transport In The Province Of Limburg

1. Political considerations

1a. The Netherlands Public Transport Act 2000 (Wp2000), main objectives: Public transport extension, by meeting customer demands Increase of cost-effectiveness of public transport➨ Free market licence approach

1b. Province of Limburg Actual licences until end of 2006 Rearrangement of licence areas New tenders:

● public, transparent and upright● market consultation● new regional public transport policy 2005● independent Tenderboard

NL

BD

Public Transport In The Province Of Limburg

Other requirements:

● Two licences: North and Central Limburg and South Limburg

● Tender is multi-modal: as well as train, public bus and regional public taxi service

● Including the tender for regional public taxi service for disabled persons, on behalf of all Limburgian municipalities

● Sustainable public transport, i.e. as few as possible environmental pollution and spatial claims by and for public transport

● Improved cost-effectiveness for all modalities

● A financing system that includes enough incentives to encourage quality improvement throughout the total licence term (revenue responsibility with the transport provider)

Public Transport In The Province Of Limburg

2. Public Transport Policy 20052a. “From Three To One” Railway links are the backbone of the system No competition between modalities, by integration of all modalities Encouraging chain mobility by logical coordination (links) between modalities “Herringbone model’’: raise passengers to a higher-level modality as quickly as possible

(hub and spoke) Recognisable public transport by invariable frequencies and unambiguous information

2b. From Supply-focused to Demand-driven Public Transport The transport company has to be passenger-focused Continuous development of the public transport product (inventive and creative)

2c. Province Covering Public Transport Public transport plays a major role in enabling social participation Support the robustness and quality of life of cities and rural areas, as well as traffic safety

in both

2d. Borderless Public Transport Cross-border transport is a top priority, due to the special position of Limburg in The

Netherlands

Public Transport In The Province Of Limburg3. Public Market Consultation Main goal:

To assess the feasibility of the Public Transport Policy objectives in actual practice Result:

● positive about the multi-modal approach of public transport, as it is regarded as the future for all licences in The Netherlands,

● But some amendments were desired on:○ Licence term (due to investments in equipment)○ Licence dimensions (two licences rather than one in the Limburg area)○ Government interference (government at distance, as transport provider is

expected to develop public transport and responsible for it’s own revenues)

4. Invitation To Tender Main objective:

To encourage tenderers to be creative and innovative in their bid and to prevent them from focusing only on strategic considerations

How? ● Developing the plan is left to the tenderers● When awarding the tender making quality a decisive factor● A financing system that includes enough incentives to encourage quality

improvement throughout the total licence term

Public Transport In The Province Of Limburg

5. Some results

Passengers and Passenger Miles 2005-2009

90

100

110

120

130

140

150

160

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Index (2005=100)

Passengers SLPassenger Miles SLPassengers NCLPassenger Miles NCL

Time table hours offered, 2005-2009

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

NM-Limburg Z-Limburg

Tth x 1000

Standard bus fleet:NC Limburg: 78 EEV busesS Limburg 155 EEV buses

at ± 1000 of ± 3500 bus stopsreal time departure times

At the start of the licence term in 2007: increase of ± 70% in NCL and ± 33% in SL

increase of passengers: NCL ± 33% - SL : ± 20%Increase of pass. miles: NCL ± 10% - SL : ± 19%

Customer satisfaction

6,0

6,5

7,0

7,5

8,0

8,5

9,0

9,5

10,0

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Mark

NC Limburg

S Limburg

The Netherlands

Customer satisfaction mainly above national average