Bus sector revamp: better late than never?

NOW that the government is finally stepping in to lend a hand in public bus operations, many long-suffering commuters are likely to say "it's about time".

After repeatedly refusing to run buses itself - even as it acknowledged that commercial operators plan bus routes based on commercial considerations - the government will now own buses and other operating assets, previously the domain of public transport operators.

It will manage these assets and determine bus routes as it invites private operators to tender for them, thus insulating these companies from operational losses - which have plagued the existing operators in recent years and dissuaded them from raising capacity and service levels.