Liverpool City Region is moving ahead with its plans for a franchised bus network, and seeking views from users on the future of its bus services
Locals and stakeholders are being invited to have their say on how buses are run in the Liverpool City Region with the launch of a new consultation. Titled ‘Moving Buses Forward,’ the consultation follows an assessment by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority in deciding how to best use its powers to improve bus services by either establishing an enhanced partnership with bus operators or by introducing bus franchising, which led it to conclude that franchising would be the best option to reform local bus services. In the latest consultation, the city region is seeking more information on what local people think before a final decision is made.
Under the current regime, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority currently pays for subsidised bus services which make up around 15% of the region’s bus network, costing £14m in the 2021/22 financial year. It has also invested in transport schemes such as the £2 single fare, ‘Green Bus Routes’ to improve journey times and reliability, and zero-emission hydrogen buses, costing around £145m between 2022 and 2027. Additionally, concessionary travel schemes accounted for £40.3m in the 2021/22 financial year.
If the franchising option were taken up, the Combined Authority would adopt a similar system to that currently being put in place in Greater Manchester, which the Authority says is its preferred option and would deliver the best value for money as well as giving greater control over the bus network.
The alternative, an Enhanced Partnership, would see the Combined Authority and bus operators work together to improve services, such as new buses, passenger information and fare-setting of multi-operator tickets.
The Authority acknowledges that the initial move to franchising would carry significant costs, which it estimates to include a £252m investment in buses and £62m in bus depots, plus a £27m cost to change over to franchising. It plans that this would be funded by borrowing, repaid from future fare income, supported by extra funding to cover all long-term costs. The latter could be provided by options including a transport levy funded by Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral councils, the Mayoral precept (the additional charge that residents across the region pay as a contribution to the work of the Combined Authority), superfluous money from Mersey Tunnel tolls left over after the cost of running and maintaining the tunnels is met, and additional money from central government, the Authority explains.
The Combined Authority says it will consider responses to its consultation before making any decision on whether to introduce the proposed franchising scheme. It expects the decision to be made in December this year, subject to a number of factors. The consultation closes on Thursday 3 August
