The Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough has signed-off plans for bus services that “put communities first”. The move will be the biggest overhaul of the bus network in 40 years.
Dr Nik Johnson, who leads the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, has officially announced he will franchise the bus system. Officials say this will bring local services under greater public control and create a more reliable, affordable and passenger-focused network.
‘It’s high time for change’
The Combined Authority will set fares, routes, timetables and service standards. It will work with contracted private bus operators to ensure services are implemented and work effectively. The first publicly-funded routes are expected to launch by late 2027.
Mayor Dr Nik Johnson said: “This is one of the most significant moments for local public transport in decades.
“For too long, private control of buses has meant ever-dwindling, unreliable services which don’t meet passenger need, are less and less affordable and often require millions in public subsidy just to keep key routes going. It is high time for change.”
Franchising ‘puts communities first’
A three-month public consultation was held last year and found 63% of the 1,600 respondents were in favour of franchising. The alternative option put forward was an Enhanced Partnership model, which allows closer collaboration with operators – but left key decisions on the bus network, like service levels, in private hands.
Dr Johnson added: “Bus franchising puts communities first. It gives us the power to design a network that works for the people of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, with better routes, more frequent services, and a focus on connectivity, not just what’s profitable for operators.
“This won’t happen overnight – franchising is a long-term project, and we have 40 years of poorly-regulated dysfunction to undo. But this decision is a major step towards a properly joined-up, high-quality public transport system that delivers faster, more reliable, and convenient journeys.”
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20/02/25: The headline for this story has been updated to better reflect the implications of bus franchising
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