Bus services in the North West down 52% in a decade – New figures

Labour’s  Councillor Arooj Shah has today revealed shocking new statistics that show local bus routes in the North West have declined by 52% per cent since 2010, with more than 8,000 services slashed nationwide.

The North West region has been hit hard, with over 2,128 local bus services lost since 2010.

This trend is set to get worse still. In March, the government confirmed it would reduce support for bus services by 23 per cent, which would see almost 400 more services lost based on estimates from the Confederation of Passenger Transport.

Greater Manchester already has plans to take back control of buses and improve services. Mayor Andy Burnham is launching the Bee Network in parts of the region from the 24^th September this year and the yellow branded buses, including new zero emissions buses, will be on the roads in Bolton and Wigan. The new locally controlled services will be rolled out in Oldham from April 2024.

The £2 flat rate single adult fare has been extended to September 2024 and new combined bus and tram tickets launch in September 2023. 

And Labour nationally will launch the biggest reform of Britain’s broken bus system in forty years, by putting control over services back into the hands of the communities that depend on them.

Labour’s bus reform plan would do three things:

• Allow communities to take back control of bus services: Labour would give all local transport authorities the power to take back control of bus services, extending the opportunity to franchise services to every community (currently only available to metro mayors). Smaller local transport authorities will be offered expert advice and support to assist with the path towards franchising services, with the Bus Directorate in the Department for Transport refocussed to deliver support to local transport authorities.
• Lower the legal hurdles to franchising with a presumption in favour of franchising to end the costly and time-consuming hurdles which delay much needed reform, and prevent communities from having a say in how their bus services are run.
• Lift the legal ban on municipal bus ownership introduced by the Conservatives in 2017 following intensive lobbying by vested interests. This would allow communities that want to establish their own municipal bus network, building on the success of areas like Nottingham City Council which has the highest satisfaction ratings in the country.

Labour’s Councillor Shah, Leader of Oldham Council and Transport lead said:

“Under the Conservatives wages are falling, taxes are higher than at any point in living memory and our public services – from the NHS to local bus services – are being run into the ground. 

“Bus services are the lifeblood of communities all over Oldham and Greater Manchester, but every year, thanks to the Tories, more and more are cut off, hitting the local economy and holding people back. 

“Labour has a plan to build a better Britain. We will put passengers first by allowing communities to take back control over their bus services.”

Councillor Elaine Taylor who represents Oldham on the Bee Network Committee added “Labour’s Mayor, Andy Burnham, supported by Oldham Council, is leading the way in taking back control of buses to deliver the services local people need. But it has been a long and frustrating process – a Labour Government will make it much easier for other local areas to benefit. I am really looking forward to better buses in Oldham from next year and was encouraged to hear an update at the most recent Bee Network meeting on the plans for more reliable services and plans for capped fares and flexible, simpler tickets.”