Government unveils new 'bus revolution' measures for local leaders to bring services into public control

Measures to empower local leaders to take control of bus services have been unveiled by the Government. Transport Secretary Louise Haigh claimed her 'bus revolution' will save vital routes nationwide.

Legislation giving all local transport authorities new powers to run their own bus services will be laid before Parliament on Monday (September 9) in the form of a statutory instrument. Only metro mayors can currently control services in this way.

The Government has also launched a consultation on new, simplified guidance speeding up processes and reducing costs for local leaders looking to bring services into public control.

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This model – known as bus franchising – involves local authorities granting private companies the right to operate in a specific area but retaining control over key aspects of the service such as routes, timetables and fares.

In Greater Manchester, all buses in the region are being brought under public control, with the first franchised Bee Network buses rolled out in Wigan and Bolton last year.

The Department for Transport (DfT) plans to bring forward a Buses Bill later in this parliamentary session to deliver changes to further support franchising, alongside other measures on areas such as funding and accessible travel.

The annual total distance travelled by buses in England has fallen by nearly 300 million miles since 2010, according to the department.

Ms Haigh said: “Buses are the lifeblood of our communities, but for too many people it has become impossible to rely on local services, as routes have been slashed and timetables hollowed out. Today is the first stop on our