Labor delivers ‘bus revolution’ as minister visits Greater Manchester network

New Transport Secretary Louise Haigh will visit Greater Manchester’s pioneering public bus network on Thursday as Labor vows to start a “bus revolution” and allow services to return to local public control.

Ms Haigh will meet Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to discuss how the area’s bee network can be replicated across the country to improve services and increase passenger numbers.

The Bee network, which launched last September as England’s first bus franchise outside London, has since seen passenger numbers rise by five per cent in the first area to be franchised, with revenue following suit.

Mr Burnham pushed for a franchise model for bus services in the region after what he called a “36-year struggle” to bring them back under public control following deregulation by the Thatcher government in the 1980s.

Bus ridership figures fell sharply after that, with two billion fewer annual bus trips in 2023 than in 1985.

And Greater Manchester until recently had 830 bus services run by 30 operators with 150 different ticket types, with some routes near universities and oversupplied town and city centers and more rural areas undersupplied.

The mayor promised the new system would give the public control over fares, routes and frequencies, with financial penalties for poor performance written into the five-year service contracts provided by 50 new electric buses, all wearing the same Bee Network yellow. livery.

The new network is currently being rolled out across the region.

Labor now plans to remove the barriers so that local transport authorities across the country are empowered to take control of buses.

Ms Haigh said: “Buses are the lifeblood of communities but the system is broken.

“Too often, passengers are left to wait hours for buses that don’t turn up – and some have stopped altogether.

“The 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 empowering every community to take control of their bus services through franchise or public ownership.

“We’re already seeing what the Bee network is delivering for the people of Greater Manchester – we’ll make sure every community can enjoy the same benefits.”

Mr Burnham said: “Properly integrated public transport is key to unlocking growth and opportunity in our city-region, improving the lives of our residents, supporting businesses and providing greater value for money.

“The numbers speak for themselves – our Bee Network has more passengers than ever and provides 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.”