Council wants new deals on subsidised ferries and trains

Ferry and rail services will be affected by one of the biggest shake-ups of taxpayer-funded public transport Bristol has seen.

Bristol City Council is putting all of its subsidised transport services out to tender from next month, inviting companies to bid for the right to run them.

The Evening Post revealed how this would affect local bus services last week, but it will also affect a number of ferry and rail services that serve the city.

The council part-funds the Bristol Ferry Boat Company weekday commuter service between Cascade Steps and Hotwells Road; the cross-harbour ferry between the ss Great Britain and Porto Quay; and the Severn Beach rail line between Severn Beach and Temple Meads.

The council, along with the ss Great Britain Trust, financially supports the cross-harbour ferry service, which costs 60p one-way.

At the moment the city council pays £425,000 towards running rail journeys, and £88,540 on the ferry services.

The authority is hoping to cut the amount of money it spends supporting the services, as well as the £4.7 million it pays towards bus services in the city. Both ferry contracts will be put out to tender in September, while the council hopes to negotiate a better deal with First Great Western, the company that runs services on the Severn Beach Line.

Richard Rankin is the managing director of Number Seven Boat Trips, the company that runs the cross-harbour ferry, as well as other, non-subsidised services.

The first he had heard of the changes was when the Post contacted him for comment.

He said: "We had a year left to run on the contract, and would prefer it to run its course.

"It was a serious loss-maker when we took it over four years ago but we've turned it into a success.

"We are keen to build on what we have achieved. I'm quite confident we can cut the cloth according to the clients' needs and lower the burden."

Mr Rankin said the service now transported 10,000 people a month, compared to less than 2,000 before 2006.

Executive member for transport Gary Hopkins has stressed the re-tendering process is not about cuts.

But local transport campaigners have raised concerns that is exactly what is going to happen.

Campaign for Better Transport's Dave Redgewell said: "We're horrified in both cases.

"This is the big bang, they're doing it all at once.

"It's just a smokescreen for cuts."

Mr Hopkins said: "With the Severn Beach line the contract is with First Great Western so it has to be them.

"There are rules about competition and subsidy, but if the fares collected go up, to maintain the same level of service they should need less subsidy.

"But we will maintain at least the same level of service, including Sundays, and potentially look to improve it again."

Neither First Great Western nor the Bristol Ferry Boat Company were available for comment.