County to undergo bus franchising study

If franchising goes ahead, it could mean Cumbrian councils taking over routes, fares and timetables

A study looking at how bus franchising may work in a county's rural areas is to go ahead.

The government has provided about £500,000 to Cumbrian councils to manage to the pilot, which would explore how to improve connectivity, boost passenger satisfaction and drive economic growth.

Minister for roads and buses, Simon Lightwood, said the government wanted the region to "lead the way in how franchising could be used in rural communities".

According to a recent Transport Select Committee Report, bus services in rural areas were in "significant decline".

Labour MP for Whitehaven and Workington Josh MacAlister said: "For too long, people in our towns and villages have faced unreliable and infrequent bus services."

The department for transport said it wanted to investigate "that franchising is not just for metropolitan hubs".

Cumberland Council and Westmorland and Furness Council has been given the government funding to manage a study for themselves.

MacAlister said by giving councils "greater control, we can better protect vital routes, connect isolated communities and make sure that bus services work for local people and local economies".

Lightwood said the benefits of bus franchising had been seen in Manchester where there had been a 10% increase in buses being on time.

"We actually think this could be a really good model for rural areas," he added.

"We are asking Cumbria to lead the way to find out how franchising could be used in rural communities across the country so people can trust their bus will turn up on time and get to where they need to get to."

If franchising goes ahead, it could mean Cumbrian councils taking over routes, fares and timetables.

What other areas have franchised buses?

Buses were recently brought back under public control for the first time in 40 years in Greater Manchester, following a franchising process led by Mayor Andy Burnham.

Liverpool also reversed the deregulation of bus services, introduced in 1986, after councillors voted in favour of the plans in 2023.

The power to franchise out bus services has been in the hands of metropolitan mayors since the Bus Services Act in 2017.

The West Yorkshire Combined Authority announced franchising would also be implemented in the region, with the first franchised buses expected to launch in Leeds in March 2027.

In May, the West Midlands mayor signed an order to bring the region's bus network back under public control for the first time in almost 40 years.