NEW: big news in public transport/local govt. @AndyBurnhamGM announces that Greater Manchester will be taking the region’s bus network out of private operator control.Will be the first time it’s happened in England outside London since the bus networks were privatised in the 80s.
Burnham’s words 👇
https://twitter.com/niallgriffiths/status/1375097163194236930
For those not familiar with this- most of England’s bus infrastructure (save London) is not intensively regulated. Routes, costs etc are set by the companies with limited control by public authorities. That’s been the case since privatisation in the 80s.
London is an exception- where routes, cost, Strategic coordination is carried out by TfL. The services are still conducted by a private company but are franchised and they have to accept the costs, routes etc determined by TfL. It sounds like Burnham is opting for that model.
Anyone who regularly uses England’s bus network, even in our great cities like Manchester, is more than aware of its shortcomings. Often irregular, expensive and malcoordinated with other bits of transport. Differences with London, which has remained regulated, are significant.
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