On Monday (9th September), the UK Government set a new statutory instrument before parliament, marking the first step in a legislative journey to reform bus services in England.

Reforms will grant all local transport authorities (LTAs) the power to franchise services, meaning that they can decide routes, timetables and fares. 

These measures have been hailed as the start of a ‘bus revolution’ by Transport Secretary Louise Haigh. It is hoped that the measures will lead to improved bus networks, with faster and cheaper services. 

English Bus services outside of London have been largely deregulated since the 1980s. Since 2010, almost 300 million fewer miles have been driven by buses per year. In Greater Manchester, where services have been franchised since 2021, passenger numbers have grown by 5% over the past year. 

This statutory instrument will be followed by the Buses Bill later in the parliamentary session, which is expected to further support franchising, as well as introducing other measures focused on areas such as funding and accessible travel.

CIHT welcomes the UK Government’s recognition of the vital role played by buses across the country. Encouraging more people to use public transport is an essential component of the Government’s net zero pledge. Ensuring that public transport is available, reliable, affordable, accessible and safe is to making this a reality and tackling transport related social exclusion. 

For those working within and around the bus sector, CIHT runs the 'Bus Centre of Excellence'. Join for free to access a wealth of best practice, new and events. 

CIHT members can share their thoughts on what should be included in the Buses Bill via CIHT Connect.