- thousands of bus passengers to benefit from more reliable and
dependable journeys, thanks to new law
- passengers will be protected from sudden cuts to crucial
routes, and training will be provided to drivers on how to handle
anti-social behaviour, improving safety for women and girls
- power will also be put in the hands of local authorities to
decide what works best for their communities, breaking down
barriers to opportunity and boosting growth as part of the
government's Plan for Change
Better buses are on their way for thousands of passengers across
the country after the government's Bus Services Bill became law
yesterday evening (27 October 2025), marking a new dawn for bus
travel in the UK.
Buses remain the most used form of public transport across
England, but around 300 million fewer miles were driven by bus
services in England in 2024 compared to 2010,
with passengers suffering from sudden route cuts and a lack
of accountability.
This landmark move will end the risk of routes being scrapped at
short notice by tightening the requirements for cancelling vital
routes, an issue which has left passengers, particularly those
who are elderly, disabled or living in rural areas, cut off and
isolated from their communities.
The government will now empower councils to identify services
which they deem as socially necessary, meaning strict
requirements must be followed if operators wish to cancel or
change them.
Not only will the new laws ensure services are protected but it
will also lift the ban on local authorities setting up their own
bus companies, allowing them to run their own services to ensure
that passengers, not profit, come first.
The Bus Services Act also includes plans to mandate staff,
including drivers and those based at bus stations, to
undertake training to recognise and handle incidents of
anti-social behaviour and crime, including violence against
women and girls.
The government will back bus services with further funding for
local authorities, which will be agreed in the coming weeks.
Transport Secretary said:
For too long catching the bus has felt like an ordeal, with
unreliable services and cuts to key routes meaning many
communities, particularly those in rural areas, have been left
isolated.
The passing of our vital Bus Services Act will finally change
this. By making it easier for local leaders to take
control of their buses we are putting passengers first, improving
access to jobs, education and tourism opportunities which are all
vital to growing the economy – a fundamental part of our Plan for Change.
As well as plans to allow councils to start their own bus
services, the Bus Services Act will also cut the red tape holding
back bus franchising, where local authorities allow companies to
operate in their areas while retaining control over key aspects
such as routes and fares, ensuring this model can be delivered
faster.
The government is already backing local authorities York and
North Yorkshire, Cornwall, Cumbria, Hertfordshire, Cheshire West
and Chester as part of the Bus Franchising Pilots, which aims to
explore how local authorities could take control of its bus
network and transform rural services to work for everyone.
Corinne Pluchino, Chief Executive of Action with Communities in
Rural England (ACRE),
said:
The lack of reliable, affordable public transport in rural areas
is a widespread problem which impacts on those in greatest need
and holds back economic growth. We welcome the new measures
to require the identification and listing of socially necessary
local services, and new requirements if bus operators want to
cancel or change them. This is an important first step to
achieving better rural bus services, and ACRElooks
forward to working with government to ensure the Act delivers
positive change for rural communities.
Paul Nowak, General Secretary, TUC said:
This landmark Bus Bill is great news for the hundreds of
thousands of workers across the country who rely on our bus
networks to get to and from work each day. The government is
turning the page on the failed era of bus privatisation
– and returning to a system that puts ordinary people above
profits and shareholder returns. We've already seen the real
difference that effective franchising can make in places like
Manchester. It's now vital that local leaders work in partnership
with the bus workforce to make the most of the opportunities
offered by the Bill.
Jason Prince, Director of the Urban Transport Group, said:
The Bus Services Act represents a watershed moment for the future
of the bus. We now have legislation that provides all local
leaders with greater powers and the ability to choose the right
tools to improve their local bus networks and passengers'
experiences – ensuring these services are accessible, safe and
attractive. We warmly welcome the Act and its recognition of the
critical role that local areas play on the road to better buses.
