As the Bus Services Bill returns to Parliament for its second reading today, David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, has welcomed it as a critical step in reversing years of decline in the region’s bus services.
Bus coverage across York and North Yorkshire has deteriorated dramatically - with North Yorkshire seeing a 51% drop in miles driven by buses between 2010 and 2023, the worst fall anywhere in the North.
Mayor Skaith said:
“This is what happens when you deregulate, defund and walk away.
“Communities in our region have been ignored for too long - where others have overseen a decade of decline in our bus services, I want to turn that tide. This Bill is our chance to do just that - putting power in local hands to create a bus system that works for everyone.”
The new legislation will streamline the process for local leaders to franchise bus services - meaning they can set routes, fares, and standards - and will lift the ban on publicly owned bus companies introduced under the Conservatives.
In York and North Yorkshire, Mayor Skaith says he's already taking action to improve services. A new Local Transport Plan is in development to tackle the long-term decline in provision and set out a clear roadmap for recovery. Alongside this, the Mayor has brought together bus operators from across the region to work on a package of early improvements. These include integrated ticketing across services, better passenger safety, and stronger links between park and ride services in York.
Franchising remains firmly on the table, and the Bus Services Bill would make it quicker and easier to move towards a franchise model where needed. The Mayor is also working closely with his counterparts in East, South and West Yorkshire through the White Rose Agreement, ensuring passengers can benefit from more reliable and joined-up cross-border services - something only greater local control can deliver.
Mayor Skaith added:
“Transport is one of the biggest tools we have to unlock opportunity - whether in rural villages, coastal towns or our cities.
“The system hasn’t worked for passengers for a long time. Now, with Labour in power nationally and locally, we’ve got the chance to put that right.”
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