Somerset injects competition into schoolbus market

摘要

Somerset County Council has responded to a lack of price competition in the school transport market by leasing its own fleet of five Euro6 coaches. The 59-seat fully seatbelted vehicles began operating five routes in September to Hugh Sexey's Middle School, The Kings of Wessex Academy and Wedmore First School. The council hopes to inject competition back into the market, improve sustainability and reduce costs after the recent loss of several large operators - particularly in the Sedgemoor area - led to a significant increase in the the cost of daily school transport.