We have today launched a new, long-term National Bus Strategy for England, outside London. Backed by more than £3 billion, the strategy will deliver cheaper, more frequent and more reliable bus services for passengers.
Buses are the unsung heroes of local transport. While rail steals much of the media limelight, the reality is that over 50% of public transport journeys in the UK take place by bus. Ensuring we have a reliable, passenger-focussed system will therefore be crucial if we are to achieve our ambitions of levelling up all communities after coronavirus.
The pandemic has had a significant impact on buses, as with all transport. Dealing with the emergency fostered greater co-operation between bus operators and local authorities, which I believe we can build on. We now have a unique chance to build on this and change the way in which operators and authorities work together long-term, to deliver significant improvements for passengers.
Changing the way councils and bus operators work together to deliver better outcomes for passengers
The Government wants every local transport authority and bus operator in England to be in a statutory Enhanced Partnership or a franchising arrangement. These arrangements bring together the important skillsets and contributions of both parties, critical to a strong bus network, and ensures they work in collaboration to improve services.
Operators will need to work with their local councils on targets for improving passenger numbers, reliability and passenger satisfaction in order to be eligible for future Government funding, including any further COVID-19 funding, any of the initial funding we have in 2021/22 for bus improvement, or later tranches of the transformational £3 billon funding announced last February by the Prime Minster.
Delivering tangible improvements that will make buses easier, cheaper and more convenient to use
While developing Enhanced Partnerships or franchising arrangements, we will be asking councils to produce new robust and ambitious Bus Service Improvement Plans by the end of October 2021. We expect the plans to set out a roadmap to better services for communities, urban and rural, and be fully informed by local needs. We will make £25 million available to help councils develop and deliver new arrangements.
It will be for local areas to determine what is needed in their areas to drive up bus use. However, we expect councils and operators, working together, to provide:
• Cheaper single bus fares, with daily price caps, so people can use the bus as many times a day as they need without mounting costs.
• More integrated services and ticketing across all transport modes in an area, so people can easily move from bus to train.
• Easy to access information, including online, so that services are easier to use.
• Contactless payments on all buses.
• Easier access for disabled people onboard buses.
Delivering zero-emission buses and the plan for consultation.
The strategy also sets out our ambitious roadmap to a zero-emission bus fleet, and alongside the strategy we have also launched a consultation on ending the sale of new diesel buses in England. This will bring buses into line with other vehicles - we have already announced ending the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030.
I will be working closely with local authorities and bus operators in the months ahead as both parties take advantage of the opportunities presented in this strategy.
Yours ever
The Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP, Transport Secretary