4.5 C
West Bridgford
Sunday, February 16, 2025

Bus revolution: Plans to give all communities franchise control of ‘failing’ bus and tram services

Transport Secretary, Louise Haigh, will visit Greater Manchester today (11 July 2024) to begin the government’s bus revolution, as she pledges to support every community to take back control of buses through franchising or public ownership.

Since buses were deregulated in 1985, bus services in England’s regions outside London have collapsed, with:

  • 2 billion fewer annual bus journeys in 2023 than in 1985
  • Almost 300 million fewer miles driven by buses in 2023 than in 2010
  • 6,000 fewer buses on the road between in 2023 than in 2010

The Government will support local transport authorities to take back control of their bus services, and has set out a five-point plan to deliver better buses:

  Empower local transport authorities and reform funding: by giving local leaders more control and flexibility over  bus  funding and allowing them to plan to deliver their local transport priorities.

 Allow every community to take back control of their buses: by removing barriers that currently limit  bus  franchising powers.

- Advertisement -

Accelerate the bus franchising process: by supporting local leaders to deliver better buses, faster.

 Step in to safeguard local bus networks: by providing more accountability over bus operators and ensuring standards are raised wherever you live across the country.

Support public ownership: by removing the ban on publicly owned  bus companies and building on the success of award-winning public bus services still in operation.

She will meet with the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, to discuss how the area’s Bee Network can be replicated across the country to deliver better services, grow passenger numbers and drive opportunity to under-served regions.

The Transport Secretary will pledge to create and save vital bus routes up and down the country, calling time on the failed system of deregulation that has seen service levels plummet. The plans will also bring an end to the postcode lottery of bus services by providing safeguards over local networks across the country.

Portrait scaled
Louise Haigh

Launched in September 2023 as the first bus franchise in England outside London, the integrated Bee Network has delivered for local people by growing passenger numbers and improving the reliability of local bus services. This has already seen passenger numbers grow by 5% in the first area to be franchised, with revenue following suit.

The Transport Secretary will see first-hand how the successes of the Bee Network can be replicated across the country, improving services and handing power back to local people.

The Transport Secretary will also hear directly the challenges faced by Greater Manchester during its franchising journey.

Greater Manchester endured a 6-year effort to deliver local control of bus services due to unnecessary barriers. The government’s plan will remove these barriers so better buses can be delivered faster.

Transport Secretary, Louise Haigh, said:

“Buses are the lifeblood of communities, but the system is broken.

“Too often, passengers are left waiting hours for buses that don’t turn up – and some have been cut off altogether.

“Change starts now. This new government will give local leaders the tools they need to deliver better buses up and down the country.

“Our plan will create and save vital bus routes by giving every community the power to take back control of their bus services through franchising or public ownership.

“We are already seeing how the Bee Network is delivering for people across Greater Manchester – we will ensure every community can enjoy the same benefits.”

The Bee Network is also boosting Manchester’s Metrolink. In May, it recorded its busiest month in its 32-year history with 4.1 million passengers using the iconic yellow trams, higher than the previous record of 4 million set before the pandemic in 2019.

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said:

“Properly integrated public transport is the key to unlocking growth and opportunity across our city region, improving the lives of our residents, supporting businesses and delivering greater value for money.

“The numbers speak for themselves – our Bee Network has more passengers than ever before and is providing a better service for residents.

“Greater Manchester has shown that our pioneering approach works and we look forward to working with the government to put power back into the hands of local communities.

“The bus plan is part of the new government’s ambition to develop a long-term, national strategy for transport. This will ensure infrastructure can be delivered efficiently and on time while allowing local people to take back control of their buses, trams and trains.”

Follow The Wire on TikTok, Facebook, X, Instagram. Send your story to newsdesk@westbridgfordwire.com or on 0115 772 0418

Categories:
 

 

Latest