Thursday 18 June 2015

Faire Face à l'Énigme de la Coordination (2)

The Coordination Conundrum in France
On the platform at Axminster station, there are signs directing passengers to "Buses for the Jurassic Coast" (First in Dorset X31 hourly) ...

... no mention, however, of buses to Seaton (Axe Valley 885, hourly) or Chard (Buses of Somerset 30, every 90 minutes). Locally an interchanging passenger might find Stagecoach service 4 helpful but nothing is revealed on the station. If you are very lucky indeed there might be some publicity in the racks in the waiting room.
But there are, thankfully, full timetables at the stop.

But which of the many organisations involved would take responsibility and, more importantly, cough up the pennies to do it properly?

Even where the same company is operating trains and buses you are unlikely to be regaled enthusiastically by bus publicity. When fbb last passed by, Truro Station (First Great Western) had no publicity or directions for First Kernow's buses that stopped outside.
And if you are observant enough to spot the appropriate poster, it is utterly and laughably out of date.
The 500s (Western Greyhound) expired in February. All this from the same company, First! Madness.

But imagine, if you can, the complications which materialise at Huningue, Weil am Rhein and Basel.

Firstly, three separate nations.
Then, two currencies ...
... with an exchange rate that is very close but not quite the same!
And that is only he beginning.

In Huningue [FR] the buses are marketed as Distribus ...
... the brand of the local "Communauté" (local council) ...
... and operated, mostly,  by L K Metrocars ...
... but overseen by the umbrella of the Alsace Region.
Here you will find longer distance routes from Huningue and Saint Louis ...
... branded for the sub region of Haute Alsace.
Of course, the overall political body is the Département which, in this case, is Haut Rhin.
The 724 (black) runs from Huningue to Mulhouse (pronounced Mull-Ooze), he region's capital.

For most Huninguiens and Huninguiennes, their local Distribus network is all hey will need. There is an excellent route diagram ...
... with PDF timetables at the usual French incomprehensible frequencies!
There is a range of local "Distribus" tickets based on a €1.30 flat fare, plus all the usual season and concession rates. Then there are regional tickets for Alsace and yet another logo to appreciate!
These "Alsa" tickets provide facilities for travel with a full range of bus, train and tram operators ...
... but only in France!

Oh, and the Distribuses are very smart.
But all he above applies to France only.

Look at the bus map and ...
... Distribus [FR] route 8 crosses the border ...
... into Basel [CH]!

Coping with the Coordination Conundrum - in spades!

 Weiter Basler blog : Freitag 19 Juni 

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