‘Regulated deregulation’ of local bus services—An appraisal of international developments

The deregulation of the British bus sector (outside London) in 1986 was the start of a debate on the merits of ‘deregulation’ and ‘competitive tendering’. The period that followed was rich in lessons. New Zealand was at the time the only other country engaging in a reform based upon market initiative (implemented in 1991). Other countries chose for a less extreme and more consensual way to introduce competitive incentives, choosing the fundamentally different competitive tendering (CT) path. As a result, the so-called ‘Scandinavian model’ developed, based upon the London example of route tendering. Later the Netherlands adopted a network tendering approach, resembling the French practice of network tendering though with more operator freedom.     

沉管隧道掘进机——TIMBY工法构想

横穿航运繁忙的水道用机械化施工建造沉管隧道的方法,其优点非常明显.它不需要浮运设施;不妨碍航行;不需要干坞;不需要潜水员;不受恶劣气候的影响.为什么以前没有任何人想到这一点?     

西班牙瓜达拉玛隧道工程中的硬岩掘进机

瓜达拉玛隧道工程具备掘进竞赛的所有要素,但这并不是一般的竞赛.本文所述不只是四台掘进机同时投入隧道掘进全速竞赛的情况,而是重点叙述这四台掘进机(两台海瑞克、两台维尔特)在28.377km长的隧道掘进中关于减小风险的措施、每台掘进机掘进中所面临的挑战以及管理策略对掘进机以至工程整体性能的影响等几个方面的经验.     

To competitively tender or to negotiate - Weighing up the choices in a mature market

A key attribute of competitive tendering for the periodic selection of operators of subsidised public transport services is to secure the provision of specified services at efficient cost levels. This has proved particularly effective where services were previously provided by an inefficient monopoly operator. The arguments for the adoption of competitive tendering in preference to negotiation with the incumbent operator may be less clear-cut in other cases.Consideration is given to both theoretical and practical insights into the relative merits of competitive tendering and negotiation approaches in such situations. The limited literature on the topic is reviewed and insights and lessons identified. Influencing issues include prior conditions, the nature of the supplier market, features of contracts, negotiating and competitive tendering strategies and practice, accountability and transparency, and long-term market implications. The evidence suggests that ‘one size does not fit all’, and the choice will depend on specific circumstances.The relative merits of the two approaches for renewal of bus contracts are considered with regard to Adelaide, for contracts which have previously been awarded through competitive tendering. The paper draws out the main factors that could influence the authority’s choice between the options, and discusses the relevance of the findings to other situations.