Two bus conferences came at once in September with Portsmouth’s Bus Quality Conference hot on the heels of the UK Bus Summit in Manchester, and as the Bus Services (No.2) Bill makes its way through Parliament, there has been plenty to talk about.
In the North West, the great and good of the bus industry, manufacturing and fleets, as well as local transport authorities and combined authority representatives, came together – with Simon Lightwood, Minister for Future Roads, stating his confidence that the Bus Services Bill can deliver the sector’s “largest overhaul” in 40 years.
Franchising was a major discussion point, with the Bill set to make it easier for Cas and LTAs to establish such operations. The opening session, however, saw different LTAs make clear that whether a franchise or alternative model is pursued, there is not a one-size-fits-all option.
Portsmouth, meanwhile, hosted a conference and series of tours of its various transport facilities, and I was fortunate to join a tour of the Fareham to Gosport Bus Priority Route, which uses an old railway line for buses to zip down the peninsular. Later, I visited a transformed bus garage that houses 62 zero emission buses and charging equipment.
Stephen Fidler, Director of Local Passenger Transport and Inclusion for the Department for Transport, set out in Portsmouth that buses are key for connecting people with work, friends or family – so they need to be reliable, better integrated with other transport modes, and safe, especially for women and girls. UK bus services are becoming more accessible, too, with two wheelchair spaces becoming a requirement for new services.
The bus sector has many roles and it’s also leading decarbonisation on UK roads, with one in five new buses now zero emission – improving air quality and providing more affordable green mobility across the country. Zero emission buses can also change perceptions of the sector, instead as one with cutting-edge technology which, along with the increasing offer of concessions, can help encourage more people to get back on board.
With legislative steps intended to empower local leaders and communities to take control of their bus services, industry could be on the cusp of an opportunity to transform services across the country – and hopefully drive up ridership for all.
