UL appeals decision - service important to travelers

Upplands Lokaltrafik has decided in conjunction with Swebus and KR-Trafik to appeal the Work Environment Authority's decision to ban handling cash on buses starting July 1, 2009. The reasons behind the companeis' decision to appeal are deterioration of service for passengers and the economic impact this will have on public transit.

On February 20, the Work Environment Authority announced its decision that Swebus and KR-Trafik are will no longer be permitted to handle cash on buses after July 1, 2009. This deadline comes two years earlier than the date included the action plan created by UL and the bus companies.

"The measures that UL has implemented have already reduced onboard cash handling. The current action plan includes incremental changes that demonstrate that UL can discontinue cash handling in a structured way without excessive adverse consequences for passengers and still have the drivers' best interests in mind," says UL CEO Klas Wåhlberg.

Measures already taken include the introduction of the 20-trip card, the option of paying for annual passes by direct debit, 10-trip cards on the route Uppsala- Arlanda (both bus and Upptåget) and the option of buying temporary cards online. In addition, the number of points of sale around the county have doubled compared to a few years ago. Overall, this has reduced the amount of the cash handling on board, at the same time as the number of passengers has increased and ticket prices have risen. Upon the request of drivers and attendants, the special night fare has also been abolished, which has dramatically reduced the amount of cash on board.

Examples of measures in the Regiontrafiken action plan include discontinuing card sales onboard beginning in the summer of 2008, ticket machines in all urban areas in the county and the option of payment by debit/credit card on some routes, such as the airport bus. The new ticketing system to be installed and put into operation in 2010 will also make it easier for passengers to take care of their fares in other ways than by paying cash onboard the bus.

In addition to the negative consequences for passengers, the decision of the Work Environment Authority will cause UL to suffer economic consequences in the form of expenses and, to a certain extent, loss of profits, totaling approximately 35 million/year. These costs may have consequences for passengers in the form of less frequent service or higher ticket prices. Alternatively, UL's shareholders, the county council and the municipalities within the county will have to contribute tax revenue to cover the cost increase.

"If UL had to reduce the number of bus trips, both passengers and the bus companies with which UL has contracts would be negatively affected," said UL CEO Klas Wahlberg. UL considers it important to increase safety for staff working on board buses and trains while minimizing the negative impact on passengers so that the travel experience is not affected.

"The decision from the Work Environment Authority may cause new threat and violence situations to arise when a passenger is not permitted to travel even though he or she is willing to buy a ticket. Therefore UL needs time, in accordance with the action plan presented to the Work Environment Authority, to come up with options so that single tickets can be purchased through other means.

For questions regarding this press release, please contact Klas Wåhlberg at 018-65 99 10 or 070-570 35 99