Plans have been unveiled to transfer control of public transport in Hull and East Yorkshire to the elected mayor. The newly formed Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority (HEYCA), headed by Luke Campbell, will assume legal responsibility on 30 March, says the BBC.

However, the transfer of all functions will take longer, with a total takeover expected by March 2027.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), a HEYCA report said a phased approach was “seen as a way of reducing risk and managing continuity for passengers and operators”.

The report stated that taking over all responsibilities next month would introduce “significant delivery and operational risk during a period of major change in national funding and assurance requirements”.

Before being elected as mayor in May 2025, Reform’s Campbell told the LDRS that fixing the region’s “broken” bus network was one of his main priorities.

He cited Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham who has brought buses under local control under the banner of the Bee Network.

“I think it’s time for us to take back control now. Control the fares, control the bus routes and the quality of service,” he told the LDRS last year.

“I’m not saying anything that hasn’t been done before, this has been done in Manchester, you’ve only got to look at Andy Burnham to see the results.

“So it can be done, we deserve better in this area.”

(Picture: Hull & East Yorkshire Combined Authority)