The likelihood of bus franchising being introduced in North East England has risen after a report to the North East Combined Authority (NECA) recommended progression of a formal Franchising Scheme Assessment (FSA).
Bus Reform Options Report will go before the NECA Cabinet on 31 July. It includes detailed analysis of both franchising and an expansion of the current Enhanced Partnership model as avenues of reform, alongside a shorter analysis of potential public ownership. The latter will become possible via the Better Buses Bill announced recently.
The report concludes that “there is a compelling case for change to the region’s bus service because of instability in our bus network and the need to progress towards our regional objectives,” and thus recommends that Mayor Kim McGuinness and the Cabinet proceed to an FSA.
Before her election in May, Ms McGuinness said that delivery of public control of bus services in the North East would “start on day one” of her administration. Completion of that was targeted as before 2028, or sooner if allowed by what has become the Better Buses Bill.
Creation of an Angel Network in the vein of Greater Manchester’s Bee Network is advocated by Ms McGuinness. Speaking on 19 July, she says: “We need to recognise that the existing system is broken, and things need to change if we are to grow bus use and improve things for passengers.
“Local people need our bus system to be more reliable – to trust buses will turn up on time – and affordable, so that cheap tickets help people to reach new opportunities for work or education.”
Despite her previous comments around timings for bus franchising rollout in the North East, the reform report notes that from commencement of an FSA exercise to having the first regulated bus service operating “would likely require just over five years.”
However, “accelerated opportunities” will be sought wherever possible if franchising is ultimately adopted. Ms McGuinness says that legislative change to speed its progress, as will be part of the Better Buses Bill, “may potentially be of relevance.”
The report adds that the time to get franchised services underway could fall to four years depending on other factors. That includes the way franchise contracts are awarded, with the document noting that those could be constructed as individual routes as in London, via an area-based approach as in Greater Manchester, or through a single package.
It is estimated that the FSA for the North East will cost around £8.5 million and take around 30 months to complete. Predicted costs of franchising mobilisation will be contained in the Assessment.
In a summary of the reform report, NECA Director of Transport Tobyn Hughes observes that franchising should only go ahead if the FSA determines that it is the best option, and that an independent audit and consultation must take place before a final decision is taken by Ms McGuinness.
Bus Reform Options Report within these meeting papers.
