Thread by @passtrans

Details are now emerging on the buses announcement. The package is worth £220m in the first year with a longer term funding package to be announced as part of the 2020 spending review. THREAD ⬇️ [1/13]

The government will also commit to the UK’s first-ever long-term bus strategy and funding settlement, including support for local authorities who want to create London-style franchised services in their areas. [2/13]

£20m has been allocated for bus priority measures in the West Midlands and a further £30m will be paid directly to local authorities in 2020 to 2021, to help them improve current bus services or restore those that have been lost (we're not sure how far this will go... 🤔). [3/13]

A concept called the 'Superbus network' is planned, with an initial pilot scheme in Cornwall. The concept promises low fares and investment in bus priority measures. We'll have to await the detail to see how this will work in reality. [4/13]

In Cornwall the fares pilot is part of a project that aims to improve the quality, frequency and capacity of rail and bus services to create an integrated public transport system for Cornwall. [5/13]

The govt says 'buses are disproportionately used by people on lower incomes and Cornwall has been chosen as a county with significant deprivation and social exclusion'. The concept aims to help connect people with 'jobs, education and evenings out'. [6/13]

Other Superbus networks will be rolled out next year, with the focus on places that suffer similar problems and where better public transport could significantly improve people’s lives. All will consider improvements in frequency and bus prioritisation. [7/13]

Meanwhile, one town will see its entire bus network rolled over to wireless electric vehicles. Country buses will be hybrids, using electric only power in the urban area. The location is still being discussed with local authorities and operators and will be announced soon. [8/13]

But the big news is that commitment to the UK’s first-ever long-term bus strategy!! 🥳🥳🥳 Seems like the hard work of the sector in pushing this agenda has finally paid off. [9/13]

The most intriguing thing? How about this: the longer term funding package in 2020 will set out how the government plans to support London-style bus franchising elsewhere. [10/13]

'The area where such proposals are most advanced, is Greater Manchester, which is shortly due to consult on adopting a proposed franchised model in 2020,' says the govt. There's been rumours about this rumbling around for a few weeks - will GM receive extra funding? [11/13]

For areas that opt for partnership, there also the promise that 'the package will also support other areas which would prefer to pursue other forms of co-ordination, such as voluntary or statutory partnerships with operators'. [12/13]

The devil will be in the detail of course, but it looks like things may have taken a small, but significant step forward today ^AG [13/13]

SUPPLEMENTARY TWEETS: New guidance how now been released. Excuse me while I get off the floor at this gem: 'All new road investments in England which receive central UK government funding will be required to either support bus priority measures or...

'....or explain why doing so would not be necessary or appropriate in that instance. All future funding bids will need to explicitly address this issue.'

This is me (AG) right now:

There's also £20m for DRT services and the £30m for subsidised services tops up the current £43m allocation. The Cornwall Superbus pilot will last for four years.

Finally, here's a summery from the document. You can take a look yourself here: gov.uk/government/pub…