Bus and coach operators are urging politicians to tackle Scotland’s chronic traffic congestion in order to speed up journeys, boost public transport and benefit the economy.
In a manifesto to be launched on Monday at the Confederation of Passenger Transport’s Scotland conference in Edinburgh, the industry calls for steps to enable faster, greener and safer bus and coach journeys.
Top priority is to address traffic congestion and improve journey times for the 900,000 trips made by bus every day in Scotland. The average bus in Scotland travels at 11.3mph.
Faster buses would reduce costs and attract additional passengers, allowing operators to lay on more frequent services. This, in turn, would improve connectivity and get people to education, health appointments and to their local high streets quicker and more reliably. uicker and more reliably.
A KPMG study last year found that buses contribute £5.3 billion to Scotland’s economy annually. New research commissioned this week by CPT Scotland has found that an improvement of just 8% in bus speeds would increase this by £565 million to £5.9 billion annually. The research also details the environmental and social benefits of faster buses, and why increasing bus speeds is a critical lever for improving public transport efficiency. Modelling demonstrates how modest speed increases could result in millions more journeys. journeys.
In its manifesto, Shaping the Future of Bus and Coach in Scotland, CPT Scotland is challenging all parties at the Scottish Parliament 2026 elections to support five priorities to enhance bus and coach travel:
1 Tackle congestion to improve journey times.
2 Support rural bus and coach.
3 Continue the journey to greener bus and coach.
4 Review bus funding in Scotland.
5 Ensure passenger and staff safety.
The manifesto will be launched at the 47th annual CPT Scotland Conference, which will include an address by Jim Fairlie MSP, Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity.
Paul White, Director, CPT Scotland, said:
“Buses and coaches account for three quarters of public transport journeys in Scotland – they’re a green, affordable and convenient alternative to travelling by car.
“Bus users come from across the political spectrum. We urge all candidates to recognise the crucial role of buses and coaches in peoples’ day-to-day lives, and to prioritise measures that will get passengers to their destinations quickly, cheaply and sustainably.
“In particular, there is a real opportunity to boost Scotland’s economy by speeding up bus journeys, enabling more people to earn, learn and spend in local communities. Buses are the lifeblood of our communities – it is time to put them at the heart of Scotland’s political debate.”
(Pic: Confederation of Passenger Transport)
