BURNLEY Peter Pike MP has told Westminster how East Lancashire bus operators are reshaping services to the needs of passengers -- but warned there is still much more to be done.

The MP highlighted the changes in an article for The House magazine sent all MPs and members of the House of Lords.

He stressed the importance of the passenger's voice in the transport sector, pointing to the consultation being carried out by Burnley and Pendle Transport as a prime example.

Writing in his capacity as joint chairman of the Associate Parliamentary Transport Forum and the Associate Parliamentary Road Passenger Transport Group about the need for consultation with passengers to ensure strong public transport services Mr Pike said: "Since privatisation of the railways and competition on bus routes it is in the interests of public transport providers to consult, listen and respond to passenger views. This view is not universally acknowledged by all companies but it is a reality they will need to accept if they want to keep hold of their franchises - especially on the railways.

"In my constituency of Burnley, the local bus firm, Burnley and Pendle Transport, recently introduced a number of changes to bus services, many as a direct result of suggestions received from on-bus passenger surveys and from pre-paid comment reply cards included in their newly introduced "Customer News" leaflets.

"This hands-on approach to consulting passengers not only improves services but empowers passengers and gives them a sense of shared ownership."