disadvantaged by franchising plans. RAY WARD
The Association of Local Bus Company Managers (ALBUM) has welcomed the debate on the future of bus services in Wales, and supports the Welsh Government’s ambition to put passengers first. However, the organisation has urged a measured, inclusive and evidence-led approach to bus reform, and one that properly tackles the underlying challenges facing the sector and avoids unintended consequences that could jeopardise the improvements franchising aims to achieve.
ALBUM says that any proposed reforms should be judged by one fundamental question: whether they will make bus services more attractive to passengers, judged on the criteria of more frequent and reliable services; simpler, more integrated ticketing and information; better value for money; greater accessibility and ease of use; and, ultimately, increased bus use. Franchising alone is not a silver bullet, ALBUM warns, saying that structural reform must go hand-in-hand with operational improvements and sustained investment in infrastructure and passenger experience.
“We recognise that franchising may have a role to play in Wales, but it should be seen as one option among many. Enhanced partnerships, for instance, have delivered significant improvements elsewhere, allowing for joint investment, service planning and innovation without excluding trusted local operators,” the Association says.
“The Bus Services Bill in Westminster acknowledges the value of different approaches, and the DfT’s current franchising pilots reflect the need for flexibility tailored to local needs. Wales, with its unique geography, demography and operator base, must adopt a model that is right for its communities, not simply replicate approaches from elsewhere. “Experience shows that the biggest obstacles to a successful and sustainable bus network are not governance models, but structural issues such as congestion, which inflates costs, undermines reliability and deters passengers, lack of investment in bus stops, real-time information systems, and interchanges, and declining revenue funding, which affects both commercial and socially necessary services.
“Wales needs a long-term, cross-sectoral commitment to bus priority, accessible infrastructure, and ongoing operational support. Without this, franchising may reorganise the sector without improving outcomes.”
ALBUM says it is particularly concerned that a poorly designed franchising system could marginalise small and medium-sized bus operators and destabilise long-standing public sector operations. “This risk is real and recent,” it says. “In Greater Manchester, only one SME remains part of the franchised system, with many others lost due to the scale and complexity of tendering.
“Wales has a rich mix of local authority-owned operators and SMEs delivering vital rural and community services. Any franchising model must be explicitly SME-friendly.”
In essence, that translates to a call for franchise lots which are small enough for SMEs to realistically bid for; reasonable and proportionate tendering requirements; the avoidance of excessive bureaucracy that penalises smaller organisations; and ensuring that council-owned bus companies, like those in Cardiff and Newport, can continue to thrive.
ALBUM is urging the Welsh Government and Transport for Wales to ensure that the Bus Services (Wales) Bill does not miss the opportunity to address systemic barriers to better bus services. Reforms must be inclusive of all types of operators and rooted in long-term investment in infrastructure and reliability, it says, and measured by improvements in customer outcomes.
“Wales has an opportunity to lead the UK in creating a truly integrated, responsive, and sustainable bus network. To do that, it must involve all players – public and private, large and small, in the solution.”
