Cambridgeshire and Peterborough mayor announces plan to franchise bus network
Dr Nik Johnson’s decision to franchise the region's bus system aims to improve services, reduce fares, and prioritise passenger needs over commercial interests
Last updated 7th Feb 2025
Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Dr Nik Johnson, has revealed plans to franchise the region's bus network, a move designed to create a more reliable and affordable public transport system. The decision, described as the most significant reform to the bus network in forty years, will put bus services under greater public control.
Under the new model, the Combined Authority will oversee fares, routes, timetables, and service standards, while working with contracted private bus operators to implement these plans. This shift from the current deregulated system, established under the 1985 Transport Act, will allow profits to be reinvested into the network to improve services.
Dr Johnson explained, “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."
He 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.”
The move follows a public consultation, in which 63% of the over 1,600 respondents supported franchising. The Combined Authority’s Transport and Infrastructure Committee unanimously recommended this approach to the Mayor.
Franchising will allow for a more coordinated bus network, better services for rural areas, and a focus on improving air quality by encouraging greater bus usage. The Combined Authority will ensure services are accountable to local people and not just driven by commercial interests.
The transition to the new model will begin in stages, with the first franchised services expected to launch by late 2027. In the meantime, efforts will continue to enhance bus services, including rural options and discounted fares for under 25s.
“We are committed to transforming bus travel in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough,” Dr Johnson said, promising a smooth rollout with minimal disruption.