‘Decade of decline’ claim in report ‘too gloomy’, says CPT

A claim in the House of Commons Transport Select Committee’s recent report that the bus industry has had a ‘decade of decline’  has been disputed by the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT).

“…bus travel is staging a comeback, supported by the national fare cap and investment by bus companies in modern, environmentally friendly vehicles” – Graham Vidler, Chief Executive of the CPT

Graham Vidler, Chief Executive of the CPT, said: “Bus operators welcome the Transport Committee’s ambition of getting more bums on seats, and MPs’ call for a new national bus strategy. But perceptions of a ‘decade of decline’ in bus travel are outdated and far too gloomy.

“The number of bus journeys taken across Britain rose by 8% last year, including a 10% increase in bus travel across England outside London – the biggest rise for decades. The Covid-19 pandemic and local authority austerity harmed the bus network. But bus travel is staging a comeback, supported by the national fare cap and investment by bus companies in modern, environmentally friendly vehicles.”

Graham Vidler went on to say that bus operators ‘wholeheartedly’ support initiatives to encourage more young people to catch the bus, as suggested in the report.

He said: “Promoting bus travel to under-22s will help to build a lifelong habit, shifting the common assumption that everybody needs to learn to drive at 17. One option would be a £1 fare cap for young people, which would cost between £100m and £150m a year to implement across England.

“Bus operators would welcome minimum bus service levels nationwide – although this can only be delivered through sustained, long-term funding for the industry and would need to be backed by hard cash from the Treasury. To make it work, the Government needs to provide five year visibility on funding and should act to ensure transport spending is ringfenced for buses.

“To truly boost bus usage across the country, politicians need to commit to speeding up buses. That means round-the-clock bus lanes, traffic light priority and better co-ordination of roadworks to take buses out of traffic and get passengers to their destinations quickly. Faster journeys would create a virtuous circle of more passengers onboard, more investment by bus companies, greater frequencies and less car traffic on the road.

“Every pound invested in local buses brings £4.55 of benefits for communities, the environment and the health of the nation. An investment in buses is an investment in the wellbeing of future generations.”