Bus passengers promised better services

Transport Secretary Louise Haigh plans to give local authorities in England powers to run their own bus services

Passengers have been promised a "revolution" in bus services under new plans to give councils the power to control routes.

Labour has unveiled a package of bus reforms at a summit at ARU Peterborough, the city's new university.

Transport Secretary Louise Haigh said the measures would be the "biggest overhaul to buses in a generation" by giving local authorities more power to control services.

The Conservative Party has called on the government to explain how local authorities would fund the proposals.

Labour plans to give local authorities in England powers to run their own bus services

Labour plans to allow authorities to introduce a franchising system, where they set timetables, routes and fares.

This power was previously limited to mayoral combined authorities, such as the one in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, which hopes its first franchised bus services will be running by September 2027.

Ms Haigh said "too many people" found it impossible to rely on local bus services, adding: "Routes have been slashed and timetables hollowed out."

Speaking at ARU Peterborough, she said: "After decades of failed deregulation, local leaders will finally have the powers to provide services that deliver for passengers."

'Massive difference'

Nik Johnson, the Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, said the announcement would make a "massive difference".

He said: "We're doing everything we can to reform the way buses are managed across the region."

The mayoral authority is running a public consultation until 20 November for people to give their views on whether local bus services should be franchised.

Shadow transport secretary Helen Whately said Labour's plans were "unfunded" and asked for clarity on whether local authorities would be expected to raise taxes or cut services.

She said it would not make a "blind bit of difference for passengers".

The government's Better Buses Bill would be put forward to Parliament at a later date. The bill will look at measures for areas where there are not plans to introduce franchising.