Secretary of State for Transport Louise Haigh has taken on the role of “passenger-in-chief” and underlined the new government’s desire for reform of bus services across England as she visited Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and Go-Ahead London’s all-electric Waterloo depot.
Ms Haigh’s further work on bus services comes a day after the King’s Speech in which a Better Buses Bill was promised. That will major on giving more local control of services via franchising and a removal of the ban on establishing new municipal operations.
She says that Transport for London (TfL) delivers “one of the most efficient, affordable and sustainable transport networks in the world” and that it is “living proof” that passengers “do not have to put up with a broken bus system.”
Discussions with Mr Khan will centre on how the TfL approach to bus can be replicated elsewhere in England as part of reform efforts. “We are only two weeks into government, and we are already taking the fast lane towards better integrated transport for all,” says Ms Haigh.
“Our Better Buses Bill will remove barriers and empower local leaders to replicate London’s world class bus network across the country, giving passengers a transport system they can truly rely on.”
The Department for Transport (DfT) says the Better Buses Bill is part of the government’s ambition to develop a long-term national transport strategy. That will enable infrastructure projects to be delivered “efficiently and on time while allowing local people to take back control of their buses, trams and trains.”
DfT adds that bus services in London “have thrived under local leadership,” highlighting how the Superloop network has driven demand. Mr Khan will soon unveil formal plans for a tranche of ‘Superloop 2’ routes after news of that work first broke earlier in 2024.
Speaking about Ms Haigh’s visit, he says: “The evidence is clear – if you invest in new transport infrastructure, people will use it, and I am delighted that new figures show the huge popularity of Superloop since it launched.
“Investment in buses and other transport in London also benefits the rest of the country, with supply chains in Ballymena, Falkirk and Yorkshire creating jobs and boosting economic growth across the UK.
“I am hugely excited about the reset in the relationship between London and national government and about working hand-in-hand with the new Transport Secretary to deliver a better London for everyone, and the change the country needs.”
