The next steps to delivering bus reform for Wales have been set out by Deputy Minister for Climate Change, Lee Waters.

The Welsh Government’s Roadmap to Bus Reform builds on the proposals of the bus white paper to radically shake-up the way the public transport system works in Wales and sets out year by year targets of how the Welsh Government and Transport for Wales plan to approach the delivery of franchising bus services in Wales.

“We’re moving from a privatised system that puts profit before people towards one that will plan buses and trains together around the needs of passengers”, Waters, the Minister with responsibility for transport said, before stepping down from his post shortly afterwards (see below).

The current system where bus operators decide where to run services based on where they can maximise profit will be replaced by a system of ‘franchised’ contracts.

Transport for Wales, local Councils and the Welsh Government will work together to design bus networks that link key services and tie up with other buses and with train timetables all using one ticket.

Companies will then be able to bid to run the whole package of routes for an area, not just the ones that are the most profitable.

“This is the most far-reaching set of reforms taking place anywhere in the UK” the soon-to-be-departed Deputy Minister added.

(Picture – Dreamstime)