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Bus Services Bill gives councils in England new powers to improve bus journeys

Posted: 23 May 2016 | Katie Sadler, Digital Content Producer, Intelligent Transport | No comments yet

The Bus Services Bill has been introduced to Parliament giving councils in England the power to work with operators to improve local bus services.

Bus Services Bill gives councils in England new powers to improve bus journeys

The Bus Services Bill has been introduced to Parliament giving councils in England the power to work with operators to improve local bus services.

Bus Services Bill gives councils in England new powers to improve bus journeys

The Bus Services Bill will give councils in England the power to work in partnership with operators in order to drive up bus use, cut congestion and deliver economic growth. The bill also provides the opportunity to introduce new technology including on-board Wi-Fi.

Open access to fare, timetable and route data for app development

Data about fares, timetables and routes will be openly available so software developers can produce apps that tell passengers when the next service will turn up. It is estimated this alone will lead to an extra 5 million journeys a year.

“We are determined to increase bus usage and these measures are designed to give councils access to a range of powers to help deliver regular, reliable services for all”

Commenting on the bill, Roads Minister Andrew Jones said: “Good bus services can help cut congestion and deliver better journeys for hard-working people, helping them get around and get on. We are determined to increase bus usage and these measures are designed to give councils access to a range of powers to help deliver regular, reliable services for all.

“We are also looking to end the frustration of not knowing when the next service will turn up, by giving software developers the data they need to produce new apps.”

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All councils will be able to enter into new ‘enhanced partnerships’ with bus companies under the new law. At present, councils have to invest in costly new infrastructure before they can create a partnership.

Bus Services Bill allows areas with an elected mayor the power to bring in bus franchising

Areas with an elected mayor will get the power to bring in bus franchising, where they think it is appropriate, and say what services should be run in their area, just like in London.

Other councils, beyond the areas with an elected mayor, will also be able to franchise buses if they get permission from the Transport Secretary.

“This new legislation offers the prospect of a ‘fresh start’ for the bus”

Frank Rogers, who leads for Urban Transport Group on buses, commented on the introduction: “This new legislation offers the prospect of a ‘fresh start’ for the bus by giving cities a range of more effective tools with which to improve bus services. The Bill includes a simpler route for city region authorities to franchise networks of bus services in the same way that London does as well as giving us better ways of making the existing deregulated market deliver greater benefits for passengers.”

“The bus is the main form of public transport in our urban areas but at present the city regions outside London lack the powers they need to ensure that bus services are planned in a way which meets the needs of our growing economies, the environmental challenges we face and passenger needs. This will be the third piece of legislation on buses since 2000 so it’s vitally important that we get the detail right this time in giving us a legal framework with which to improve services which is fair, proportionate and straight forward. We look forward to playing our full part in ensuring the debate on the legislation is informed by what our city regions need to do an effective job in providing more integrated, better quality and greener bus services.”

In a statement reacting to the new legislation, Go-Ahead said it ‘supports the emphasis in the Bill on the partnership model. Working in partnership at a local level can bring about better outcomes for both bus passengers and taxpayers. Our devolved structure facilitates local management accountability and allows us to tailor our regional bus services to the needs of the customers and work with local transport authorities to deliver their objectives.’

“Measures brought forward in the Bus Services Bill must ensure that the franchise decision-making process is transparent”

Go-ahead notes, ‘the process by which new franchising powers granted to combined authorities can be exercised and remain to be convinced that their application will deliver better services for our customers than the existing system of competition between operators and partnership working with local transport authorities. Measures brought forward in the Bus Services Bill must ensure that the franchise decision-making process is transparent and that any franchise proposals will deliver on customer service, value for money and affordability criteria.’

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