FO EV RT ER NI Y GH T
ISSUE 288 5 MAY 2023
NEWS, VIEWS AND ANALYSIS FOR A SECTOR ON THE MOVE
Labour would presume Cost of Euston revealed in favour of franchising only last year NEWS
Take Back Control Act would streamline path to greater bus powers with a presumption in favour of franchising for all local transport authorities The Labour Party has announced plans to take significant steps to reform bus services in England if it wins the next general election, claiming that “decades of failed deregulation have left communities with little say over the essential services they rely on”. Pointing to new data that suggests thousands of bus services have been lost in recent years, with over 1,000 services cut in the past year alone, shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh said Labour would “reform the country’s broken bus system and hand power and control to local communities”. She announced plans for a Take Back Control Act
as part of the first King’s Speech of a Labour government. The proposed legislation would give local communities more control over public transport in their area. This reform would: Extend the chance to franchise bus services to every community; Introduce a presumption in favour of franchising to halt delays; Lift the legal ban on setting up new municipal bus companies
“They want bureaucrats to run bus services” Richard Holden
introduced by the government in the 2017 Bus Services Act. Launching the policy last week, Haigh said: “Labour will fix our broken bus system - and we’ll do it by giving power and control of bus services to the communities who depend on them.” The government introduced bus franchising powers in the 2017 Bus Services Act, but Haigh’s plans drew scorn from buses minister Richard Holden. He said: “They want bureaucrats to run bus services instead of bus companies and, with no mention of funding, it’s council taxpayers who will end up paying.” MORE ON PAGES 16-17, 25
04
HS2 Ltd chief is grilled by MPs
NEWS EXTRA
‘Accessibility is good for business’
10
ALBUM Conference hears about benefits
COMMENT
Buses are in reverse - who has a plan?
16
Norman Baker looks at Labour’s bus plans
COMMENT
NEW FLIXBUS EXPANSION
Making the most of our open top buses
FlixBus launched a major UK service expansion on April 27. Speaking to Passenger Transport in Edinburgh last week, FlixBus UK managing director Andreas Schörling said there was strong demand for coach travel. “If you compare with train or low cost flights, it’s like first class. It’s a fantastic way to travel ... When people try coach they come back.” FULL STORY: PAGE 7
18
Global coach giant launches new routes
PT288p01.indd 1
Alex Warner sees a growth opportunity
CAREERS
Pictured in Edinburgh last week: Andreas Schörling of FlixBus UK (left) and Domenico Bondi, MD of Volvo Bus UK & Ireland
New Wrightbus chief executive
26
Former Lotus CEO joins bus builder
03/05/2023 16:45