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Dominating factors contributing to the high(er) costs for public bus transports in Sweden

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  • Camén, Carolina
  • Lidestam, Helene

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to deepen the understanding of what are the underlying reasons for the increasing cost of public transport in general and bus services in particular in a Swedish context. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with managers at the bus operators as well as the authority organizations. This paper contributes by identifying nine categories that can be the dominating factors behind the increasing costs of public bus services in Sweden. The identified categories of cost drivers are; of traffic appearance (peak times), greening of buses, age requirements, the contract period, the accessibility customization, special requirements on buses, collective agreements (working time regulation), tendering and contracting process, and finally, counterproductive political governance. It can be concluded that many of the cost drivers originate from the circumstances of the process of public procurement, such as different demands for different regions in Sweden as well as the trade-off between the bus operators' wishes for higher flexibility in the contracts and the traffic authorities' fear of more risks and thereby higher bids in the end.

Suggested Citation

  • Camén, Carolina & Lidestam, Helene, 2016. "Dominating factors contributing to the high(er) costs for public bus transports in Sweden," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 292-296.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:retrec:v:59:y:2016:i:c:p:292-296
    DOI: 10.1016/j.retrec.2016.07.021
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lidestam, Helene, 2014. "Sustainable bus transports through less detailed contracts," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 141-146.
    2. Vigren, Andreas, 2014. "Costs for Swedish public transport authorities in tendered bus contracts," Working papers in Transport Economics 2014:22, CTS - Centre for Transport Studies Stockholm (KTH and VTI).
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    4. Boitani, Andrea & Cambini, Carlo, 2006. "To bid or not to bid, this is the question: the Italian experience in competitive tendering for local bus services," European Transport \ Trasporti Europei, ISTIEE, Institute for the Study of Transport within the European Economic Integration, issue 33, pages 41-53.
    5. David A. Hensher & Ian P. Wallis, 2005. "Competitive Tendering as a Contracting Mechanism for Subsidising Transport: The Bus Experience," Journal of Transport Economics and Policy, University of Bath, vol. 39(3), pages 295-322, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Camén, Carolina & Tsaxiri, Panagiota & Aldenius, Malin & Lidestam, Helene, 2020. "Flexibility in contract design - is that possible?," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    2. Lidestam, Helene & Camén, Carolina & Lidestam, Björn, 2018. "Evaluation of cost drivers within public bus transports in Sweden," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 157-164.
    3. Bohman, Helena & Ryan, Jean & Stjernborg, Vanessa & Nilsson, Désirée, 2021. "A study of changes in everyday mobility during the Covid-19 pandemic: As perceived by people living in Malmö, Sweden," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 109-119.
    4. Aldenius, Malin, 2018. "Influence of public bus transport organisation on the introduction of renewable fuel," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 106-115.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Public transport; Bus transport; Costs; Public procurement; Competitive tendering;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • R41 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics - - - Transportation: Demand, Supply, and Congestion; Travel Time; Safety and Accidents; Transportation Noise
    • R49 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics - - - Other
    • R19 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Other

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