Revised UK bus policy framework leaves little room for franchises

With the Competition Commission’s review of Britain’s bus market now complete, the Government has launched its formal new bus policy statement.

As expected there are no radical changes to the deregulated framework that has now been in place for some 25 years, or moves to bring franchising into play outside London, though Local Transport Minister Norman Baker kept the door open for English local authorities to pursue bus Quality Contracts with a measure of formal control, whilst...