- Our Delivering Better Buses report produced alongside the 2024 Bus Symposium provides updates on our work on bus and potential next steps
- Read our response to the government's consultation on franchising
England's Economic Heartland hosted its second Bus Symposium in Northampton on 10 October.
Delegates and speakers included local leaders and officers, operators, innovators and industry experts. Local transport minister Simon Lightwood recorded a video address for symposium (see below), while the Department for Transport's director for buses and inclusion, Stephen Fidler, provided valuable insight into the government's approach to bus travel. He said that EEH is 'really up there' for its continued focus on improving bus journeys across the region.
Throughout the day a common theme was the need for approaches which recognise the region's geography of relatively small cities, market towns and large rural population.
Attendees were updated on EEH's major programme of work on bus, including on network and delivery models; 'Total Transport'; the 'Heartbeat network; journey planning; and ensuring East West Rail has strong 'door-to-door' connectivity (find out more about our work in the Delivering Better Buses brochure produced for the event). Several of our partners, including West Northamptonshire, Luton and Hertfordshire, shared their successes with the symposium. The economic case for bus was highlighted by consultants KPMG, while Phil Southall, Chair of EEH's Bus Operators' Group, provided the perspective of bus companies, highlighting the paramount importance of delivering reliable journey times.
The discussions during the event will inform EEH's continuing programme of work during 2025, to be agreed by the Strategic Transport Leadership Board in December.
The event came as government consults on its plans to open up franchising to all local transport authorities.
In its response, EEH said it welcomes the ability for all LTAs to be able to franchise. However, it is unlikely that franchising will be applicable or adopted by most of our partners. Therefore, there is also a need to strengthen other delivery models and the role of enhanced partnerships in delivering these to give local transport authorities a suite of options to manage buses in their area.
The response stresses the need for bus funding, regardless of model. Given the unequal bus service improvement plan funding, local authorities are not all at the same starting point.
The response also puts forward the concept of lighter-touch ‘shadow franchising’ to be considered by the Government.