The Bus Services Bill, which was today introduced into the House of Lords, “heralds a smoother ride” for bus services across England, according to the Urban Transport Group, the UK’s network of transport authorities.

The Bill includes a number of measures to change how bus services are currently run in England. These include:

• streamlining powers for Local Transport Authorities (LTAs) to take control of their local bus services through franchising
• making the process of introducing and operating franchising smoother and more efficient
• lifting the ban on creating new publicly owned (municipal) bus companies
• tackling antisocial behaviour and improving safety and accessibility on buses

The Urban Transport Group and Local Government Association’s 2023 report ‘A Smoother Ride - Reviewing the Bus Services Act 2017 to empower local areas’ put forward a number of recommendations that have been taken forward in the new Bill.

Crucially, the Bus Services Bill builds on many of the provisions of the Bus Services Act 2017, which, at the time, was a pioneering piece of legislation – but only gave automatic franchising powers to Mayoral Combined Authorities (MCAs) and led to a number of unintended consequences as to the pace and complexity of the franchising process, as experienced by Greater Manchester.

Jason Prince, Director of the Urban Transport Group, said:

“Buses are the backbone of our public transport system. The introduction of the Bus Services Bill, and its intention to hand more powers to local areas, will herald a smoother ride for the bus.

“The Bill will help ensure the bus plays an active role in supporting and growing our local economies and connecting our communities.”