The full response. There may be some oddities in the text as I've had to scan and OCR this.

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Thank you for your letter dated 21 July 2005. The answers to your questions are addressed below:
1. 0870 608 2 608 and 0870 241 2 216 (the equivalent minicom service) are the only telephone numbers that GMPTE use that has a prefix of 0870 or 0845. You can dial 0161 228 7811 to access GMPTE public transport information. This is a local number that gives people access to Greater Manchester information at normal local, national or international call rates depending on where they call from.

2. The advantage of the 0870 number is that it enables one number to be used nationwide rather than have a number of local numbers. GMPTE is part of the national Traveline service that uses the 0870 number.

The national service was set up to meet national government policies to create a single source of local transport information on a national basis. The 0870 number also enables calls to be forwarded to another region to complete the local transport information element of long distance journeys.
The relevant policies are

•"Getting timetable and connection information is vital for many passengers. We are keen to see a national integrated journey timetable set up. The best way forward is to develop a framework, which builds on information already available and draws on new information schemes as they become available. Passengers would access information through one enquiry point, even though information would be drawn from different sources." (White Paper New Deal for Transport Ju1y1998 page 52 para 3.73)

•"Better arrangements at local level are essential to develop a national
public transport information system, building on voluntary collaboration between various parties. The aim is for passengers to have easy access to comprehensive information on all modes, including rail, bus, coach and metro, from a single telephone call. "(DETR Integrated Transport "From Workhorse to Thoroughbred" Mar 99 page 32).

•"Our aim is for a public transport system to be systematically extended across the country by 2000. The initial focus will be on timetable information, but the framework will be developed with the aim of introducing information on fares. "(Transport White Paper para 3.74)

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I think many telecoms operators around the world can terminate the calls, but charge a hefty premium, far more than what we pay in the UK.

I think that is just as relevent as pointing out telcos that won't connect 0870 calls.