The three main political parties have revealed how they will approach buses if they form the next government in their manifestos.
The Conservative Party will give city regions funding to upgrade buses “to make them as good as London’s.” Services will be improved, vehicles will be modernised and smart ticketing will be introduced.
Boris Johnson’s party will also invest in what it calls Superbus networks. Fares in general will be kept low and rural services will receive funding. Electric buses will also gain further support, leading to the UK’s first all-electric bus town.
Manifestos all mention buses
Labour will ensure that local authorities (LAs) can improve buses through regulation and public ownership. Resources and legal powers will be provided for them to do so cost-effectively.
Such a policy will end “the race to the bottom in working conditions for bus workers.” Additionally, where LAs take control of buses, free travel for under-25s will be introduced.
New sales of combustion engine vehicles will end by 2030 under Labour’s aims, 10 years sooner than the Conservative Party has committed to. Labour will accelerate buses’ transition to zero emission.
The Liberal Democrats claim that “away from the major commuter routes”, buses in Britain are, like other modes of public transport, “so infrequent and expensive that cars are essentially a necessity.”
The Lib Dems will make £4.5bn available towards new and expanded services as part of a major funding boost. The party will “extend Ultra Low Emission Zones” (sic) to 10 further towns and cities.
Lib Dems want to ‘encourage’ LAs
Under Jo Swinson, the industry will be among sectors that benefit from £2bn. It will enable new buses in urban areas to be ultra-low or zero-emission by 2025. That shift tallies with the Confederation of Passenger Transport’s already-announced plans.
On regulation, the Lib Dems will “encourage” LAs to use their powers under the Bus Services Act. The party will also repeal the law preventing LAs from running their own bus companies.
