Buses are the responsibility of Local authorities and going into Public Ownership as are Trains
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King's Speech: Labour to boost public control of buses and trains
briefing document states that a Better Buses Bill will deliver Labour’s manifesto commitment to reform the bus system in England by delivering new powers for local leaders to franchise local bus services and lifting the restriction on the creation of new publicly-owned bus operators.
The Government would also ‘step in’ to safeguard local bus networks by providing more accountability over bus operators and ensuring that standards are raised across the country and give local leaders more control and flexibility over bus funding.
A GB-wide Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill, would enable ministers to bring contracts into public ownership as they come to an end or ‘if operators fail to meet their commitments’ and bring the management of the network and delivery of passenger services together in a single public body, Great British Railways.
The King said that these and other policies ‘will enhance Britain’s position as a leading industrial nation and enable the country to take advantage of new opportunities that can promote growth and wealth creation’.
Jason Prince, director of the Urban Transport Group, said: 'The King’s Speech sends a strong signal of intent that this government is serious about transforming our transport sector.
'Our rail services need reform, so it is encouraging that the Government is moving ahead with the creation of Great British Railways.
'And on buses, local leaders will be given greater powers to franchise or publicly own bus services - powers we have long called for.'
In a section of the speech climate change, the King said a Bill will be introduced to support sustainable aviation fuel production.
He also said the Government will establish a body to be known as Skills England, and reform the Apprenticeship Levy.
Labour’s shadow transport secretary, Louise Haigh MP, has today [Thursday 11 April 2024] set out the party’s plans for a better busnetwork across England, with a promise to allow every community across the country to take back control of local bus services.
Labour’s plan could create and save up to 1,300 vital bus routes and allow 250 million more passenger journeys per year compared to today’s failed system. It will also bring an end to the postcode lottery of bus services by providing safeguards over local networks across the country.
labour.org.uk/updates/press-…
During its first term, a Labour Government would:
Create a unified, publicly owned, accountable and arm’s length Great British Railways, which will be led by rail experts, not Whitehall.
Transition to a publicly-owned rail system by folding existing private passenger rail contracts into the new body as they expire, without the taxpayer paying a penny in compensation costs.
Put the passenger first, by delivering a best-price ticket guarantee for passengers, and rolling out automatic delay repay and digital season tickets across the network.
Give devolved leaders, including Mayoral Combined Authorities, a statutory role in the rail network, allowing decisions about the railways to be taken closer to the communities they serve.
Establish a powerful new passenger watchdog, the Passenger Standards Authority, to hold Great British Railways to account for passengers.
Deliver significant savings to the taxpayer by eliminating fragmentation, waste, bureaucracy and by stopping profits leaking out to private operators.
Support successful open access and freight operators to continue to deliver, and set clear objectives and targets for passenger services and freight growth.
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