Source · Select Committees · Transport Committee
Recommendation 14
14
Deferred
Require local authorities to identify and address unmet need for new bus services.
Conclusion
The Department should make clear that local transport authorities operating within Enhanced Partnerships should not only maintain existing socially necessary services but should also be expected to identify and address areas of unmet need and potential for new services. The Department’s vision should be for local authorities to preside over a renaissance in bus services, rather than simply hold the line against continued deterioration. Authorities should be supported to actively grow the local bus network in response to demographic and economic changes, not just manage its decline. (Recommendation, Paragraph 56) 48
Government Response Summary
The government did not address the recommendation for LTAs to actively grow the bus network and address unmet need. Instead, it focused on extending the £3 National Bus Fare Cap until March 2027 and considering future options for fare support and reform.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
We have extended the £3 NBFC to the end of March 2027 to avoid a sudden increase in single fares in England outside London and maintain affordability for passengers. The fare cap has provided valuable lessons of the benefits of simplifying fare structures, giving passengers greater clarity and confidence about what they will pay. To support longer-term strategic thinking, we will consider options for the eventual end of NBFC and how the Department can best support LTAs and bus operators to enable fare reform and maintain affordability in the long- term. We will bring stakeholders together to explore future models for fare support and consider how national and local funding can work together to deliver coherent, transparent, and effective fare structures that align with broader transport objectives.