CPT urges five-year funding settlement for buses

The Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) is urging the Government to adopt a five-year funding settlement to unlock what it describes as the full potential of England’s bus services.

The call was made in CPT’s submission to the Transport Committee’s inquiry examining the role of buses in connecting communities and evaluating the effectiveness of recent Government policy in tackling the decline in bus services. Its submission highlights the strong economic case for government investment in bus services, with every pound generating £4.55 in benefits to the environment, public health and the economy.

Alison Edwards, CPT’s Director of Policy and External Relations, said: “The benefits of buses extend far beyond their passengers. Government funding is essential to ensure buses remain a lifeline for communities, particularly in rural areas, and to deliver on key priorities such as economic growth, breaking down barriers to opportunity and achieving net zero carbon goals.”

CPT emphasised that current funding models and governance structures for buses outside major metropolitan areas are inadequate. A long-term funding commitment would allow for reforms to improve sustainability, accessibility, and affordability. It also called for streamlining mechanisms and expanding public-private partnerships to deliver efficient and reliable bus services tailored to the needs of different regions.

With regards to the regulatory model under which buses are run, different models will work in different parts of the country, CPT claims. It says that while franchising might be the right choice for some Mayoral Combined Authorities, it is less likely to be the right option for running bus services in areas outside of major cities where regulatory models that build on the success of commercial bus services may reap more benefits.

To improve bus services for all communities, CPT highlighted the need for:

• Prioritising buses on road networks in urban areas to improve speed and reliability.
• Investing in rural bus services to meet community needs and improve accessibility.
• Adequate funding through the upcoming spending review to deliver lasting improvements.

Read CPT’s full submission to the Select Committee here.