Cambridgeshire mayor Dr Nik Johnson decides to franchise the region’s bus system

Buses will be brought into public control after Cambridgeshire mayor Nik Johnson announced he will franchise the region’s network.

Under the new model, the Combined Authority will set fares, routes, timetables and service standards, working with contracted private bus operators to ensure they are implemented and work effectively.

Dr Johnson said: “For too long, private control of buses has meant ever-dwindling, unreliable services which don’t meet passenger needs, are less-and-less affordable and often require millions in public subsidy just to keep key routes going. It is high time for change

“Bus franchising puts communities first. It gives us the power to design a network that works for the people of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, with better routes, more frequent services, and a focus on connectivity, not just what’s profitable for operators.

“This won’t happen overnight – franchising is a long-term project, and we have 40 years of poorly-regulated dysfunction to undo. But this decision is a major step towards a properly joined-up, high-quality public transport system that delivers faster, more reliable, and convenient journeys.”

The Combined Authority will begin formal preparations for implementation and the first franchised services are expected to launch in late 2027.

However, how franchising will be funded is yet to be determined. The Combined Authority says it will develop a funding model with a mix of potential sources.

These include revenue from bus fares, the transport levy made up of contributions from Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council, the mayoral precept, and government funding and grants.

A 500 per cent increase over a 30-year period in the mayoral precept and money from the transport levy was mooted as part of the business case for franchising, raising alarm among some politicians and transport groups.

A Combined Authority spokesperson said other options “may also be available” and can be considered, but they were “not guaranteed at the time of preparing the assessment”.

The spokesperson added: “Some of these options were not included in the initial assessment as they would require changes to existing legislation or arrangements, or fall outside the control of the Combined Authority or mayor. This could change in the future and grant or other funding opportunities could also be considered in the budget setting.”

In the period up to full transition, the Combined Authority will continue its work to improve bus services, including the Tiger on Demand rural services, the Tiger bus pass offering £1 journeys for under 25s and maintaining the £2 cap on fares through to the end of June when it will rise to £2.50 to the end of December.

A recent consultation on the franchising plans found that of the 1,468 participants who provided an answer to whether they supported or opposed the bus franchising proposals, some 63 per cent either strongly support or tend to support the plans. Meanwhile, 18 per cent were neutral and 12 per cent either strongly opposed or tended to oppose the proposals.

Today’s decision follows a recommendation to the mayor from the Combined Authority board on Thursday (6 February) to choose franchising as the best way to reform buses. The alternative option, an Enhanced Partnership, would have allowed closer collaboration with operators but left key decisions on the bus network, like service levels, in private hands.

Bus franchising will allow the Combined Authority to:

- Create a more integrated network with coordinated timetables and ticketing;

- Improve services in rural areas and ensure communities are not left behind;

- Encourage more people to use buses, reducing congestion and improving air quality;

- Make services more accountable to local people and put passengers ahead of commercial interests.

Darren Roe, managing director of Stagecoach East, said the company was pleased that the decision on the future of the bus network has now been made, but said there were still “fundamental challenges” to providing sustainable and reliable bus network. These include congestion and funding streams.

He said: “There are different models of bus franchising in place throughout the UK. We look forward to continuing the conversation on what works best for our customers locally, leveraging bringing our considerable experience and extensive knowledge of running services in franchised regions like London and Greater Manchester.

“At Stagecoach East, we have 40 years’ experience running buses in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough and excited to continue serving our passengers in the best way that we can.

“However, even with franchising changes, there are still fundamental challenges that will face the region when providing a sustainable and reliable bus network. Congestion, parking enforcement, rural services and having those sustainable funding streams will remain obstacles in our busy and diverse region.

“We hope that the discussions on franchising will not get in the way of tackling these issues.”