Buses, Coaches and the 2024 General Election

[wirewiper]

This is a thread to monitor and discuss the Bus and Coach industry, and how it fares in the 2024 General Election manifestos, debates and campaigning. I am intending it to be a balanced and non-partisan discussion, but of course it may not end up that way! 

I will start with the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT), who launched two manifestos of their own at their annual conference in Westminster on 18th January. 

The first, Driving Britain Forward, is a six-point plan for buses which calls for:

- a multi-year financial settlement and national strategy to encourage modal shift
- a commitment to zero-emission bus travel by 2035
- affordable fares
- improving bus speeds
- defining essential bus services and supporting them
- developing a robust workforce strategy.

The second, Access All Areas, seeks to position the coach industry as a crucial part of the UK transport sector and calls for:

- a net-zero strategy tailored for coaches
- inclusion of coaches in local transport plans
- simplified accessibility regulation
- acknowledging coaches' role in reducing urban air pollution
- an industry-led workforce strategy. 

CPT recognises that the next government will be in a difficult situation regarding public spending, and wishes to prioritise 'better value'. CPT also asks 
that buses and coaches are discussed not in isolation, but in the context of wider issues such as transport to hospitals, and how value-for-money fares can ease cost of living concerns. Operators are encouraged to ask MPs to advocate for the industry, by emphasising the tangible benefits - such as employment and environmental - that buses and coaches bring to their constituencies. 

www.route-one.net/news/cpt-launches-coach-and-bus-manifestos-ahead-of-general-election/

======================================

Meanwhile, the two main political parties took very different approaches to the CPT conference.

The Under-Secretary of State for Transport, Guy Opperman, did not attend in person but submitted a pre-recorded video presentation that lasted less than three minutes. This was not well-received by the conference, especially as the Palace of Westminster was in sight of the conference venue and the previous Under-Secretary, Richard Holden, travelled to Birmingham to address the 2023 conference in person. Little of note was said in the video, although Opperman did confirm that reform of Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) and the National Concessionary Travel Scheme in Engalnd were 'progressing' - despite this having already been in progress for three years and still with no end in sight. The contentious Public Service Vehicle Access Regulations (PSVAR) were not mentioned at all.  

Labour's shadow Local Transport Minister, Simon Lightfoot, did address the conference in person. The remarkable aspect of his speech is that he referenced the coaches on at least six occasions, a rare bout of prominence for the sector which is often ignored completely. It is clear that Labour still has work to do on its policy development, but it has shown a willingness to engage with the industry. As for buses, Labour intends to smooth the way for more franchising, supporting communities who wish to go down that route by simplifying and extending the powers and lifting the ban on new municipally-owned operators. 

There's more about Labour's address to the CPT conference here: www.route-one.net/news/labour-coach-and-bus-policy-development-based-on-engagement/ 

[wirewiper]

Labour has launched its Better Buses Bill, outlining its intentions for bus services in England outside London if (when, shurely? - Ed) it wins the General Election.


Currently, only areas with a Metro Mayor are able to roll out franchising. In power, Labour will pass legislation that will give every community in England the scope to roll out franchising, and will also end the ban on local authorities setting up their own publicly owned bus services. In addition it will simplify the franchising process; Labour observed that the process in Greater Manchester took six years to come to fruition, due largely to unnecessary barriers imposed by Central Government. Andy Burnham, Metro Mayor for Greater Manchester, described the current process as "too bureaucratic" and too open to legal challenge. He did however commend the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement funding approach, which gives a useful multi-year horizon for transport budgets.

Labour also aims to "safeguard" bus networks under the new legislation. Describing deregulation as a "failed system", Labour notes that in 2019 there were 15 billion fewer bus trips than in 2010, and almost 300 million bus miles fewer are being covered now compared to 2010. Labour also claims that "thousands" of services have been cut, but this is disputed in some quarters; The Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) observes that many routes have been simplified and consolidated, with little loss of actual coverage.

www.route-one.net/news/labour-expansion-and-simplification-of-bus-franchising-in-england/