I wonder. Will 2020 be the Year of the Bus, at least in terms of transport policy?
I have little doubt that rail will continue to dominate the headlines, as it always does. But in terms of a real change in policy direction, I have a hunch that it may be the humble bus where we see a shift in emphasis.
Even before the General Election campaign started, the Conservatives were promising a significant increase in funding to support bus services. In the party’s manifesto, we were promised new ‘Superbus’ networks.
No quick fix
That will not all happen overnight, of course. But there can be little doubt that the newly elected Conservative government is absolutely committed to ploughing millions of pounds into supporting and growing the bus network. That will surely come with strings attached.
The big-ticket item, of course, is the forthcoming National Bus Strategy. That is something that, as I repeatedly said last year, the bus industry seems surprisingly supportive of. And we will soon see the Greater Manchester Combined Authority implement its plans for franchising.
The whole dynamic of the industry seems to be changing. There is greater intervention from the government that we have seen for many years, and a Conservative Prime Minister seemingly supportive of Greater Manchester’s franchising proposals. He is even encouraging other authorities to follow its example.
I wouldn’t go so far as to say that deregulation is dead. Indeed, many local authorities may well not want to go down any kind of franchising route. Instead, they may rely on private operators to deliver, perhaps through some form of partnership arrangement.
But it’s surely undeniable that this government is becoming far more interventionist when it comes to bus policy, to such an extend that late last year Grant Shapps told the Transport Select Committee that the Conservatives’ policies on buses were pretty much in the same place as Labour’s.
Those weren’t his precise words, but that was the practical effect of what he said.
Souter’s symmetry?
It feels like we are entering a new era for bus policy. There is a certain symmetry with Sir Brian Souter announcing late last year that he was standing down as Chairman of Stagecoach Group from 1 January. His sister and co-founder, Ann Gloag, also stood down as a non-executive Director.
There has been no greater advocate of the deregulated market than Sir Brian. His achievements in the market are immense, bearing in mind that he started Stagecoach with just two buses in 1980.
For me, he stands head and shoulder above all others in the industry for his achievements and his passionate commitment to buses.
So it’s perhaps fitting that as we appear to be entering a new era of greater government intervention in the bus market, Sir Brian and Ann Gloag should see that as the right time to step aside.
A Happy New Year to you all.
