Wigan residents asked for views on bus reform

Last year a consultation was run on a bus franchising model, with four out of five respondents supporting the idea.

Currently in Greater Manchester the bus companies decide the routes, frequencies, fares and standards. There is no coordination and limited oversight.

Where bus companies decide not to run services, where necessary, the public sector pays to fill in the gaps.

Under franchising, bus services would be brought under local control, with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) coordinating and investing in the bus network based on the services passengers need as well as contracting public transport operators to run buses.

Now, following analysis of how the novel coronavirus might affect public transport, a second consultation has been launched.

Coun David Molyneux, Wigan Council’s leader and cabinet member for transport and regeneration, said: “Our communities rely on buses to connect them to work, education and training, family, hospitals and other public services and that’s why we back a franchising model which allows the region to achieve a long-term ambition for a fully integrated public transport system.

“We understand how important a strong bus network within the borough is and that’s why two years ago we celebrated the opening of a state-of-the-art bus station in Wigan that supported the economic growth of the borough and improved accessibility for commuters.

“We believe a franchised bus network is the next step in meeting the demands of passengers but a decision like this needs peoples’ input so please make sure you have your voice heard over the coming two months.”

GMCA said in June that, before a final decision on bus franchising was made, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) would produce a Covid-19 Impact Report considering how the pandemic had affected the bus reform process.

Covid-19 has caused a lot of uncertainty over how people will travel in future, so TfGM has used four scenarios look at potential future demand in Greater Manchester.

Under all scenarios, franchising is still the best option to achieve Greater Manchester’s long-term ambition for a fully integrated public transport system and GMCA still has funding available to pay for the transition to franchising, the report concluded.

With this in mind, the new consultation has been opened to find out the public's thoughts on bus franchising.

GMCA says buses are central to Our Network, a 10-year plan for an integrated public transport network that would make getting around the city-region easy, accessible and affordable.

Both before and during the pandemic, 75 per cent of public transport journeys in the city-region have been made by bus.

They are a particularly important mode of transport for Greater Manchester's poorest communities.

The current consultation on bus franchising runs until midnight on Friday January 29, 2021. Have your say at gmconsult.org

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