Government lacks ambition to revive England’s bus services, Transport Committee says

The Transport Committee has criticised the Government's response [link] to its report on improving bus services, saying it shows a lack of ambition and risks missing an opportunity to improve connectivity across England.

• Read the response
• Report: Buses connecting communities

The Committee's report, published in August, highlighted how bus services are the country's most-used form of public transport. Despite this, Department for Transport (DfT) data shows that ridership fell by 21.7% in the 15 years to 2024. The charity CPRE estimated that more than 56% of areas covered by county or unitary councils could be considered “transport deserts”.  

Further research by DfT shows that 22% of households in England did not have access to a car in 2024, and the percentage is higher among households on lower incomes. 

DfT gave a positive response to a small number of recommendations made in the Committee's report but dismissed many others. 

 Chair comment

Transport Committee Chair Ruth Cadbury MP said: 

“When the Government announced its bus sector reforms last year it spoke of an ‘overhaul' and a ‘revolution'.But its approach now looks lacking in ambition, and it is hard to shake the feeling that an opportunity may be missed, particularly to improve services in rural and underserved communities. 

“A number of our recommendations regarding DfT's role in helping local areas to up their game have been misunderstood. Meanwhile, its plans for ‘socially necessary routes', which by their nature are commercially unviable, are in danger of being left without enough funding to be effectively implemented. 

“Throughout our inquiry we heard about the consequences of poor connectivity. Young people unable to get their first jobs or taking exhausting journeys to reach school or college. Older and disabled people feeling isolated and depressed, and high streets starved of customers.  

“Any serious attempt to revive services and make public transport equitable across the country will need new funding. And yet the most targeted proposals for how to provide funding where it would make the most difference are shrugged off with a suggestion that no decision will likely come before the next Spending Review– not for another three years.  

“The Bus Services Act is a positive and necessary start to the work of reviving bus services, but it cannot be the last word. Local authorities need more opportunity, funding and incentives to grow their networks and passenger numbers.”