In response to news that a bus operator – who cannot be named for
legal reasons – has withdrawn all of its winning bids to run the
final 7 precept-funded bus services, Mayor Dr has moved quickly to reassure residents that their
new routes would be up and running by the Spring.
Since 2022, when the first decision was made to step in and
rescue almost two dozen services deemed unviable by their
operators, the Combined Authority has successfully procured more
than 40 mayoral precept-funded routes. As a result of the
withdrawn bids, the tendering process for the remaining 7 routes
– covering places including Peterborough, Cambridge, Ely,
Huntingdon, Wisbech and surrounding villages – now has to start
over, meaning the services are now not expected to launch until
May.
Mayor Dr said: “I was very proud when this
organisation stepped up to rescue the original 23 routes, and I
am just as proud today to see the vast majority of
mayoral-precept-funded services up and running, all serving parts
of our region that an out-of-date deregulated market either
couldn't or wouldn't. On these last 7 routes, I know the delay is
frustrating, but we've dealt with operator setbacks before and
are working to get them going as soon as possible.”
The routes are part of a package of 53 services funded through
the Mayoral precept. 38 routes across the region are already up
and running, with a further 4 Tiger on Demand services –
flexible, bookable buses serving rural areas – set to launch this
weekend, covering Fenland, East Cambridgeshire, and two in South
Cambridgeshire.
Other improvements include the introduction in 2024 of the Tiger
card, offering £1 bus fares for under-25s, an all-day
concessionary pass being introduced from April, and retaining a
£2 cap on bus fares until the end of March. Following the
conclusion of the bus franchising consultation in November 2024,
Mayor Dr Johnson is also expected decide early next month on how
to reform buses across the area, although the date may be subject
to change.
Notes to editors
1) The routes affected by the withdrawal of bids are:
Tiger 1 - Huntingdon to Cambridge
Tiger 2/3 - Cambridge North and South
connections
Tiger 4/5 Soham to Cambridge and
Newmarket to Cambridge
Tiger 7 - Chatteris to Wisbech
Tiger 9 - Peterborough
Orbital
