Britain offers a case in which much greater experience of competition in the public transport sector can
be seen than in other European countries. Examples are drawn from this experience, showing that
outcomes differ between the long-distance and local markets, price competition functioning much more
effectively in the former. In many respects, the competitive bidding process may be seen as more
important and extensive than direct ‘on the road’ inter-operator competition within the same mode over
the same routes. Experiences from competitive tendering and franchising are reviewed. Contradictions
between competition policy and wider transport policies remain to be resolved.
