DAILY POST: Action can lure bus passengers.

THE deregulation of bus travel has led to a far greater choice for passengers, and, arguably, greater reliability, too, as rival operators have to maintain and enforce standards in order to compete against one another.

It's surprising to learn today then, that despite all that has happened in the industry in recent years, the number of people travelling by bus has declined markedly.

The number of passengers on Merseyside has dropped by 10% - or 15m journeys - over the past five years. Meanwhile, use of Merseyrail over the same period has increased by 15%.

Maybe the competitive factor that has so influenced the bus industry can be seen here to be having a major impact on public transport as a whole. Merseyrail has undoubtedly got its act together in recent times, with its punctuality record among the best in the country, all 59 trains having been refurbished, and officials doing their best to enforce standards of behaviour among certain elements, in the interests of all passengers.

Buses, on the other hand, still often involve waiting out in the rain, and are still likely to get snarled up in the same Liverpool traffic jams that have frustrated the city's motorists for the past five years or so.

But the experts who have sounded a warning about the decline in bus use are right to do so. There may have been a move from cars on to rail transport - but the switch has not yet been sufficiently dramatic to greatly alleviate Liverpool city centre congestion.

How many more people would leave their cars at home if new, dedicated bus lanes could skirt their way around the jams? And how many cars would be taken off the road if every bus was full?

Maybe the bus companies can learn from Merseyrail's success. Rolling bulletin boards ensure that every Merseyrail passenger knows when the next train will arrive. Perhaps something similarly useful at bus stops - and a bit more protection from the elements - could ensure that the trend for switching over to public transport will continue to win over supporters on Merseyside.