Buses remain the most used form of public transport, but in many
areas of England, services and passenger numbers are in
decline.
In its first inquiry of the 2024
Parliament, the Transport Committee will investigate the
importance of England's buses services in connecting rural
communities with neighbouring towns and suburban areas, and how
services can best be integrated into multi-modal transport
networks.
It comes after the Government announced major reforms to the sector, and
after the Autumn Budget saw the cap on a single bus fare retained
but rise to £3.
The cross-party Committee will examine the effectiveness of
recent government policies that have tried to reverse the decline
in bus ridership, and look at what has worked in different
regions and counties. Research by the Institute for Transport
Studies indicates that rural bus services in England and Wales
have seen footfall drop by 52% since 2008. Some local authorities
have seen declines of over 80%, such as Hart in Hampshire,
Fenland in Cambridgeshire, and Broxtowe in Nottinghamshire.
The Committee will focus on evaluating whether innovations in the
sector, such as smart ticketing or demand responsive transport,
have helped improve public confidence in local bus services and
spur demand.
The inquiry will also be a chance for the Committee to analyse
the success or otherwise of different operating models between
local government and bus companies, including Enhanced
Partnerships which were introduced in 2017, and to look at
franchising (used in London and Manchester).
MPs will also seek evidence about the social and economic impact
of declining bus services and consider the broader value that
well-run bus services can leverage for different
communities.
Chair of the Transport Committee said:
“The statistics that show bus ridership falling off a cliff
in many parts of the country are staggering, yet in some major
cities there is still demand and faith in local
services.
“This inquiry will be about looking for ways to end the
downward spiral of passengers giving up after seeing routes and
timetables salami sliced.
“It goes without saying that transport is the glue that holds
communities together by enabling people, particularly outside big
towns and cities, to socialise, get to work or school and spend
their money with local businesses.
“Scrutiny of how to revive bus services will be to everyone's
benefit, but particularly to young people, older residents and
the less well off.
“The Committee now welcomes written evidence submissions that
will help get our inquiry off to the best start, help us ask the
right questions and get the best answers.”
Call for written evidence
The Committee now welcomes written evidence submissions that
respond to the following terms of reference for the inquiry.
Submissions should be made via the Committee's website
by 11.59pm on 17 January 2025.
a. How the Government's proposed reforms of powers over buses in
England, and recently-announced funding, should take into account
the particular challenges of rural areas and local authorities
outside major cities, and how authorities in these areas can make
best use of those powers and funding.
b. The effectiveness of recent Government policy in tackling
declines in bus services.
c. How effectively bus services function as part of integrated
multi-modal networks that improve mobility for people who live in
areas with declining services.
d. The social and economic impacts of poor connectivity on access
to education, healthcare, employment, and social inclusion in
communities, as well as on the economy of towns and
villages.
e. The effectiveness of current funding models and
governance structures in enabling local transport authorities and
commercial operators to improve, sustain and keep bus services
outside major metropolitan areas affordable, and the potential
effectiveness of alternatives.
f. Evaluating the potential of alternative service models,
including demand responsive transport (DRT) and community
transport, and other innovations or technologies which could
support or replace buses serving less populated communities, and
what steps the Government should take to support
them.
g. How successful Enhanced Partnerships (EPs) have been so far in
improving bus services outside major urban areas, whether
franchising is likely to provide a better framework for these
areas, and whether there are alternative models worth
exploring.
h. How well policy, funding and oversight of bus services allow
services that straddle rural and non-rural areas, and local
government boundaries, to be managed.
