The Second Reading of the Bus Services Bill is due to take place in the House of Commons today (Monday 2 June).

The new legislation is aimed at improving buses and boosting local control of services.

The Bill has been brought forward from the House of Lords and has had its first reading in the Commons.

The plans will lift the ban on local authorities establishing their own bus companies, making it easier for them to control services and shape routes in an effort to make them work better for local people. The Bill will also empower local authorities to work alongside private operators to improve bus services, if they choose to not pursue full ownership.

The Bill ensures that what are describes as lifeline bus services cannot be removed or changed without councils reviewing their ability to serve communities, especially those in rural or deprived areas.

The Bill also mandates that drivers undertake training to identify and respond to threats of violence against women and girls and anti-social behaviour on buses and at bus stops.

CPT plays part

The Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) has been working closely with the Department for Transport (DfT) on behalf of bus operators and the wider industry.

“…the Bus Services Bill needs to be matched with funding not just to preserve the existing network but to add additional bus routes” – Graham Vidler, Chief Executive of the Confederation of Passenger Transport

Graham Vidler, Chief Executive of the Confederation of Passenger Transport, said: “Bus travel in England grew by 15% last year, the fastest rate for half a century, demonstrating healthy demand for journeys up and down the country. The second reading of the Bus Services Bill today is a welcome step forward in prioritising Britain’s favourite mode of public transport.

“Bus operators share the Government’s goal of delivering frequent, reliable and affordable services. To be truly ambitious in meeting demand, the Bus Services Bill needs to be matched with funding not just to preserve the existing network but to add additional bus routes.

“Extra funding of £205 million a year in the Treasury’s upcoming Spending Review would be sufficient to build the bus network by 5% – enough to add 36 million miles of bus travel annually. That would be a modest sum in the context of the Department for Transport’s annual budget of £40 billion. And the quickest, easiest way of improving buses would be to encourage local authorities to speed up journeys by investing in bus lanes and priority schemes.”