Transport Secretary Louise Haigh visited Greater Manchester on July 11, 2024, to launch the government’s ambitious ‘bus revolution’. The initiative aimed to support local communities in taking control of their bus services through franchising or public ownership, marking a significant shift in the government’s approach to public transportation.
During her visit, Haigh met with Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to discuss the potential of replicating the region’s successful Bee Network across the country. The Bee Network, launched in September 2023, was the first bus franchise in England outside London. It had demonstrated impressive results, including a 5% growth in passenger numbers and improved service reliability in its first franchised area.
The Transport Secretary’s plan aimed to create and preserve crucial bus routes nationwide, signalling an end to the deregulation system that had led to a decline in service levels. The proposal also sought to eliminate the large variation in regional bus service quality by implementing safeguards across local networks across the country.
Haigh gained firsthand insight into the Bee Network’s successes and challenges, aiming to replicate the former and mitigate the latter in other regions. Despite the network’s success, Greater Manchester had faced a six-year struggle to gain local control of bus services due to administrative and regulatory barriers. The government’s plan aims to remove these obstacles to expedite the delivery of improved bus services.
The Bee Network had also positively impacted Manchester’s Metrolink, which recorded its busiest month in its 32-year history in May with 4.1 million passengers, surpassing its pre-pandemic record.
The bus plan was a component of the new government’s long-term national strategy for transport, aiming to deliver infrastructure efficiently and on time while empowering local communities to control their buses, trams, and trains.
Graham Vidler, CEO of the Confederation of Passenger Transport, expressed support for the initiative, stating that the industry was ready to work with the government to grow the nation’s bus network, improve passenger experiences, and accelerate progress towards the UK’s climate targets.
