We welcome the ambition in the recent national bus strategy to increase bus usage and ensure cheaper and more reliable bus services across the country. In particular, we welcome its promise to give local authorities more control over bus services, either by agreeing Enhanced Partnerships with bus operators or by seeking franchising powers like those enjoyed by Transport for London. It must be acknowledged, however, that franchising will be expensive. We also commend the Department for Transpo...

We welcome the ambition in the recent national bus strategy to increase bus usage and ensure cheaper and more reliable bus services across the country. In particular, we welcome its promise to give local authorities more control over bus services, either by agreeing Enhanced Partnerships with bus operators or by seeking franchising powers like those enjoyed by Transport for London. It must be acknowledged, however, that franchising will be expensive. We also commend the Department for Transport’s proposals for encouraging demand-responsive services in rural areas and its provision of additional funding through the Rural Mobility Fund. We are Type: conclusion | Number: 20 | Paragraph: 95 | Response status: under_consideration Government response: Our National Bus Strategy sets out how we will deliver better bus services for passengers, through ambitious and far-reaching reform of how services are planned and delivered. We asked all English Local Transport Authorities outside London to