New bus franchising test set to benefit rural communities in mid-Wales

Communities across mid-Wales are set to experience early benefits that groundbreaking bus reform will bring. Led by Transport for Wales and mid-Wales councils’ a trial of the criteria designed for bus reform will take place and identify what a good bus network will look like. The trial will also bring opportunities for early improvements to […]
Cambridgeshire’s bus drivers frustrated that congestion is causing delays for passengers

Bus drivers in Cambridgeshire have made a plea for more to be done to relieve the traffic gridlock on the county’s roads, after seeing the difficulties and worry that delays cause passengers. Speaking after the Busway between St Ives and Cambridge was particularly impacted last Thursday evening, one Stagecoach East driver said: “I cannot tell […]
Council leader criticises bus route’s axing

The leader of Havering Council has described Transport for London’s decision to cancel a bus route in the area saying he is “extremely disappointed” and that the decision leaves bus services in the borough as “woefully inadequate. Cllr Ray Morgon was responding to a decision to cut the route from Romford to Ockendon in January. […]
West Midlands offering free evening bus travel this week

Transport for West Midlands is offering free bus travel for all passengers after 7pm every night this week throughout the region. “Whether you’re ticking off your Christmas shopping list, catching up with friends, or heading home from work, this is your chance to travel for free,” it says in a statement. “No tickets, no hassle […]
Kingston’s refurbished Cromwell Road bus station reopens

Transport for London has opened the redeveloped Cromwell Road bus station in the London Borough of Kingston. Working in partnership with the project contractor VolkerFitzpatrick and the Royal Borough of Kingston, this redevelopment is a first of its kind for the station since it opened in the 1990s. TfL says the build combines contemporary style […]
West Yorkshire bus fares staying at £2 until at least March

The £2 cap on bus fares will be extended in West Yorkshire following the announcement Cengtral Government spending on buses. The Department for Transport has confirmed West Yorkshire Combined Authority would receive £36.1 million to go towards its Bus Service Improvement Plan for the coming year. This will allow the CA to continue to cap single bus fares […]
Transport watchdog urges action on buses

A new report by London TravelWatch, the capital’s independent transport watchdog, is urging widespread improvements to the capital’s bus service. The next stop: Making London’s buses better found that slow journey times, poor provision of information and the on-board experience can discourage passengers from using the bus. London TravelWatch is now calling on TfL to set […]
London’s mayor details plans to speed up buses

London’s mayor Sadiq Khan has given details on how Transport for London is working to speed up the capital’s buses. The website MyLondon quotes him as telling the London Assembly: “Transport for London is taking numerous actions to improve the speed, performance and journey time reliability of bus services. This includes working with boroughs to […]
Call for the bus to be at the heart of placemaking approach

The Confederation of Passenger Transport has published its response to the government’s consultation on proposed reform to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) as well as other changes to the planning system. CPT welcomed the opportunity to respond to the government’s proposals for planning reform, arguing they offer a vital opportunity to reset the relationship […]
West Midlands Mayor pledges bus improvements within two and a half years

The West Midlands Mayor, Richard Parker, has promised that the region’s bus users will start to see improvements to the network ‘two years from next spring’. His pledge to create a public franchise system similar Greater Manchester’s was a key element of his election campaign. Mayor Parker plans to regain control from private operators over timetables, routes […]