Bus firms hauled before inquiry over timetables; Probe into service quality.

Byline: OWEN HUGHES 

SIX bus companies which serve thousands of passengers across North Wales face a public inquiry after an investigation into the running of their routes.

The firms are all part of the region's second biggest operator GHA Coaches and run more than 50 routes across Flintshire, Wrexham, Conwy, Denbighshire and Gwynedd.

They are being hauled before the Traffic Commissioner following an investigation into the running of their timetables by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA).

The commissioner will consider if disciplinary action is required under the Transport and Public Passenger Vehicles Acts.

The companies involved are Bryn Melyn Ltd, Vale of Llangollen Travel, GHA Coaches, Hanmers Coaches, and Challinor Buses, which all have Arwyn Lloyd Davies and Gareth Lloyd Davies as directors.

Firm Eifion Lloyd Davies, which trades under GHA Coaches, will also be appearing in the joint hearing at Prestatyn Magistrates' Court on October 8. The inquiry follows an investigation by bus compliance officers from VOSA.

Officers obtained copies of the companies' timetables before positioning themselves at selected stops along the chosen routes to check if services were running, and if they were running on time.

Traffic Commissioners have set a target whereby 95% of services should depart from the timing points within the bracket of up to one minute early and up to five minutes late. The absolute minimum standard which an operator will be expected to attain is that 70% of buses will depart within that bracket.

VOSA will present evidence from the investigation and if it is found they have missed targets the bosses will be asked to explain why.

A Traffic Commissioner will then have to determine whether or not the operator had "reasonable excuse" for any failures and if action is needed.

The company was approached for a comment by the Daily Post yesterday, but did not respond.

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