Firms hit out at plans to bring buses back under public control

Buses in Manchester Piccadilly

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham is looking to bring the city’s buses back under public control for the first time in more than three decades.

Andy Burnham has launched a new transport strategy for the city region which includes an integrated transport system.

Greater Manchester’s ‘Our Network’ plan would see trains, buses, cycling and walking integrated into one system.

Andy Burnham

Mr Burnham said: “Our current public transport system is fragmented and unreliable, with often confusing ticketing and passenger information.

“A truly integrated network has the potential to transform Greater Manchester.

“By allowing people to easily and quickly move around our city-region we can unlock growth, cut congestion and air pollution and enable our residents to lead fulfilling and rewarding lives.”

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has proposed franchising as the region’s preferred option.

If approved by combined authority bosses on Friday, the plan would then be independently audited ahead of a public consultation.

The bus network in Manchester was privatised in 1986.

TfGM claims deregulation has led to a lack of ‘oversight or coordination between bus services and other modes of transport.

Mr Burnham said: “We have reached a key milestone with the completion of the assessment.

“We’re the first city-region seeking to make use of the new powers under the Bus Services Act and the first to test this legislation – so are leading the way nationally in this regard.”

The plans include an expansions of the Metrolink network (including the Trafford Park link and proposed airport loop), several new tram-train routes and an ambition to establish GM Rail; a more locally controlled rail network.

A contactless payment system is on the verge of being rolled-out for Metrolink.

Expanded park and ride facilities and a bike hire scheme are also part of the plans.

Mr Burnham added: “To achieve our full transport ambitions, Greater Manchester needs the infrastructure and the necessary political powers.

“For too long, central government has over promised and under delivered when it comes to the north.

“If the next government is serious about closing the north-south divide, a critical step forward will be empowering us with the necessary powers and funding to improve our transport.
“I will be making this case strongly in the next spending review on behalf of the people and businesses of Greater Manchester.”

Stagecoach said in a statement: “The mayor has provided no evidence to support his claim that franchising is better than a partnership approach and he is keeping Greater Manchester’s taxpayers in the dark about the massive bill they would have to pay for a London-style bus system.

“The mayor has had on his desk for months a compelling £100m blueprint from bus operators which could further transform the region’s bus network right now.

“It would deliver better services, new greener buses, better value fares and a way forward to address car congestion and air quality, which everyone agrees are two of the biggest challenges facing the region.

“People in Manchester and districts across the region must be asking why Transport for Greater Manchester has needlessly spent £23m of taxpayers money on consultants’ reports assessing franchising, when practical improvements have been delayed and the partnership solutions are already staring politicians in the face.”

Henri Murison

Henri Murison, director of Northern Powerhouse Partnership said: “The Mayor of Greater Manchester and his team have commissioned a review which shows the clear case for bus franchising, which will give the public sector the ability to drive use of the bus network by improving the routes served and making fares fairer.

“The Northern Powerhouse is not about just the North coming together – but about the city regions and wider economies of the North being free to choose what is right for their economies, with the powers to take the decisions needed.

“The case for having a Mayor rested on government giving our city regions the right to do this, because it is such an important opportunity to replicate the same benefits which London gets from its bus network.”

“We support the Mayor in his views and will be making the case strongly from businesses in Manchester and the wider North, who all benefit from a prosperous Manchester leading the way can be followed by many others, that the Combined Authority should proceed once the appropriate governance and public consultations have been undertaken.”

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