£3 billion bus revolution to benefit passengers across Cheshire

Edward Timpson, MP for Eddisbury, has welcomed the Conservative Government’s announcement of a revolutionary new bus strategy, backed by £3 billion of investment, that will see passengers across Cheshire benefiting from more frequent, more reliable, easier to use and understand, better coordinated and cheaper bus services.

The strategy will require Cheshire East and Cheshire West & Chester Councils to work in partnership with bus operators to improve services for passengers in order to be eligible for funding in future.

Councils and operators will be expected to provide:

• Simpler single bus fares with daily price caps, so people can use the bus as many times a day as they need without facing mounting costs.
• More services in the evenings and at the weekends.
• Integrated services and ticketing across all transport modes in the area, so people can easily move from bus to train.
• Easy to access information, including online, so that services are simple to use.
• All buses to accept contactless payments.

Councils will also need to franchise services, as is the case in London, or establish statutory partnerships with operators—ensuring that they work in collaboration for the benefit of passengers.

They will also be required to publish an improvement plan. Such improvements will be underpinned by fundamental reforms to the sector, and will see operators need to work with their local councils on targets for improving passenger numbers, reliability and passenger satisfaction, to be eligible for future Government funding.

Only councils and operators who work to meet these requirements will continue to receive the c. £100 million per month emergency Covid funding for the sector, or any new sources of funding from the £3 billion investment.

Alongside the new bus strategy, the Conservative Government has also announced that Cheshire East Council will receive £1.26 million,  whilst Cheshire West & Chester Council will receive nearly £1.1 million as part of its £20 million Rural Mobility Fund, designed to trial on demand responsive transport in rural and suburban settings—such as mini buses booked via an app—where a traditional bus service isn’t appropriate.

This new funding will make a significant positive impact on the lives of people living in more remote communities across Eddisbury, by boosting their local transport links, as well as providing valuable insight into an innovative approach to bus travel.

Levelling up services across the country will help ensure more people turn to the bus, rather than the car, as the country builds back better and greener from the pandemic.

Eddisbury MP, Edward Timpson CBE, said:

“Good bus services can have a transformative role in places like rural Cheshire, unlocking job opportunities, boosting businesses and supporting economic growth. That's why I campaigned on better bus connections for our villages at the last election.

“This new National Strategy Bus Strategy, backed by £3 billion, will help deliver on my campaign pledge—paving the way for simpler fares, more reliable services, and better connections across every part of the country."

Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP, said:

“Buses are lifelines and liberators, connecting people to jobs they couldn't otherwise take, driving pensioners and young people to see their friends, sustaining town centres and protecting the environment. 

“As we build back from the pandemic, better buses will be one of our first acts of levelling-up. 

“Just as they did in London, our reforms will make buses the transport of choice, reducing the number of car journeys and improving quality of life for millions."  

Transport Secretary, the Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP, added:

“Buses are this country’s favourite way of getting around. They help us get to school, to the GP, or to the shops—but services across England are patchy, and frankly it’s not good enough.

“The quality of bus service you receive shouldn’t be dependent on where you live. Everyone deserves to have access to cheap, reliable and quick bus journeys.

“The strategy I’m proud to unveil today will completely overhaul services, ensuring we build back better from the pandemic.

"Key to it is the new deal it offers to councils—we will provide unprecedented funding, but we need councils to work in partnership with operators, and the Government, to develop the services of the future.”

• Launching a new Bus Strategy, backed by £3 billion, to deliver cheaper, more frequent and more reliable bus services for passengers in England. The Bus Strategy outlines the most ambitious reform to the bus sector in generations, and will see passengers benefitting from more frequent, more reliable, easier to use and understand, better coordinated and cheaper bus services.

• Requiring councils and bus operators to work together to improve services for passengers. Councils in England will either need to franchise services or establish statutory partnerships with operators – ensuring they work in collaboration to improve services. Operators will be required to work with councils on targets for improving passenger numbers, reliability and passenger satisfaction, in order to receive Government funding.

·       Launching a £20 million Rural Mobility Fund, boosting bus services in rural and suburban areas. Seventeen local authorities have been successful in their initial bids to receive a share of £20 million to trial new on-demand services or to improve existing services in rural and suburban areas. The aim is to deliver transport solutions that work better for local residents, as well as reduce the overall cost to the public of providing local transport in these areas.

Pictured - Edward Timpson CBE MP consulting constituents about bus services at the 2019 general election.