Bus franchising in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough will proceed after Mayor Dr Nik Johnson formally decided that it will be the avenue of service reform in the region.
Such a step makes Cambridgeshire and Peterborough the fourth area to adopt franchising following Greater Manchester, the Liverpool City Region, and West Yorkshire.
Reregulation was previously recommended by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA), with Dr Johnson saying in his decision that franchising represents “the best opportunity… to deliver on our ambitions for an integrated transport system, set out in detail within our Bus Strategy and Bus Service Improvement Plan.”
In an email to stakeholders, Dr Johnson observes that a recent consultation “told us of the importance of more reliable, affordable and convenient services” and that franchising will allow those to be delivered.
He continues: “I fully recognise that this is a major undertaking, and it will not happen overnight. The transition to franchising will be carefully managed.” CPCA will now commence preparations for the shift, with the first franchised services expected to begin in late-2027.
As the largest operator in the region, Stagecoach East says it is pleased that a decision on the future of bus services in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough has been made.
Adds Managing Director Darren Roe: “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, bringing our considerable experience and extensive knowledge of running services in franchised regions like London and Greater Manchester.”
However, Mr Roe cautions that even under a franchised environment, significant challenges to a “sustainable and reliable” bus network will continue.
“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 those issues.”
