Prime Minister launches £3 billion bus revolution

Bus strategy to see passengers across England benefiting from more frequent, reliable, easier to use and cheaper bus services.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/prime...revolution

Prime Minister Boris Johnson today (15 March 2021) unveils the most ambitious shake-up of the bus sector in a generation, which will see lower, simpler flat fares in towns and cities, turn-up-and-go services on main routes, and new flexible services to reconnect communities.
The government’s new bus strategy, backed by £3 billion of investment, will see passengers across England benefiting from more frequent, more reliable, easier to use and understand, better coordinated and cheaper bus services.
Levelling up services across the country will encourage more people to use the bus, rather than the car, as we build back better from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The changes include:

simpler bus fares with daily price caps, so people can use the bus as many times a day as they need without facing mounting costs

more services in the evenings and at the weekends

integrated services and ticketing across all transport modes, so people can easily move from bus to train

all buses to accept contactless payments

Hundreds of miles of new bus lanes will make journeys quicker and more reliable, getting people out of their cars, reducing pollution and operating costs.
The Prime Minister’s ten point plan sets out how we will accelerate the transition to greener and more sustainable transport.
We will:

deliver 4,000 new British-built electric or hydrogen buses will provide clean, quiet, zero-emission travel

transition cities and regions across England to emission-free buses, safeguarding the UK bus manufacturing industry

end sales of new diesel buses, and we have launched a consultation on the end date today.

We expect to see local authorities and operators working together to deliver bus services that are so frequent that passengers can just ‘turn up and go’ – no longer needing to rely on a traditional timetable and having the confidence they won’t wait more than a few minutes.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:

Buses are lifelines and liberators, connecting people to jobs they couldn’t otherwise take, driving pensioners and young people to see their friends, sustaining town centres and protecting the environment.
As we build back from the pandemic, better buses will be one of our first acts of levelling-up.
Just as they did in London, our reforms will make buses the transport of choice, reducing the number of car journeys and improving quality of life for millions.

The fragmented, fully commercialised market, which has operated outside London since 1986 will end. We want to see operators and local councils enter into a statutory “enhanced partnership” or franchising agreements to receive the new funding and deliver the improvements.
It is expected that many councils will choose enhanced partnerships, where local authorities work closely with bus companies, drawing on their operating knowledge and marketing skills. Others may decide that franchising works better for them.
Because of the decline in use caused by the pandemic, bus operators have already received significant emergency support from the government. From this summer, only services under these arrangements will be eligible for continued support or any new sources of funding from the £3 billion transformational investment. The government will also consult later this year on reforming the Bus Service Operators Grant – the current main stream of government bus funding – to achieve the same objectives.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, said:

Buses are this country’s favourite way of getting around. They help us get to school, to the GP, or to the shops – but services across England are patchy, and it’s frankly not good enough.
The quality of bus service you receive shouldn’t be dependent on where you live. Everyone deserves to have access to cheap, reliable and quick bus journeys.
The strategy we’re unveiling today will completely overhaul services, ensuring we build back better from the pandemic. Key to it is the new deal it offers to councils – we will provide unprecedented funding, but we need councils to work closely with operators, and the government, to develop the services of the future.

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, said:

Buses are the backbone of public transport in the West Midlands, carrying more than 250 million people every year. Today’s strategy is therefore very welcome, and will enable big city regions such as ours to ensure buses remain at the heart of our future transport plans. Residents here want clean, decarbonised buses that are affordable and continue to remain reliable and punctual, and that’s what the new strategy laid out today will deliver.

Anthony Smith, chief executive of independent watchdog Transport Focus, said:

For bus passengers, today’s announcement of more frequent buses and simpler fares will be welcome news. For many, buses are a lifeline to employment, education, medical appointments and leisure, and are essential to the economy. We know that the key priorities for those considering using the bus are more services running more reliably, providing better value.
Since the pandemic, safety and cleanliness have become ever more important. We will work with bus operators and other partners to make sure passengers’ needs are at the heart of new arrangements.

It also sets out ambitions to provide greater access to bus services for all, with plans revealed to require ‘next stop’ announcements onboard buses throughout Great Britain, helping disabled passengers and others to travel with confidence. The government will also launch a consultation on new regulations to improve access onboard buses for wheelchair users.
London-style services aren’t appropriate for all rural and suburban areas, which is why the Department for Transport is today also announcing the recipients of the £20 million from the government’s ‘Rural mobility fund’, which enables on-demand services – such as minibuses booked via an app – to be trialled in areas where a traditional bus service isn’t appropriate.

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Nexus has invited operators to tender for a number of new contracts, which would commence operation from 16 May 2021.

In all instances, the 'quality' weighting (for better features such as contactless payment methods, USB charging points, Wi-Fi and next stop audio-visual announcements) has been removed, in favour of more weighting towards cost.

These are:

• Service 8 (South Hylton - The Docks): 1 PVR daily (evenings and all day Sunday), Euro 5 vehicle with a minimum capacity of 23 - currently operated by Gateshead Central Taxis.
  
• Service 12 (South Shields - The Lonnen): 1 PVR daily (evenings only), Euro 5 vehicle with a minimum capacity of 23 - currently operated by Stagecoach North East.
  
• Service 79 (Hall Lane - Barnwell): 1 PVR Mon-Sat, Euro 5 vehicle with a minimum capacity of 36 - currently operated by JH Coaches.
  
• Service 79/79A (Barnwell - Easington Lane): 2 PVR (Mon-Sat evenings and all day Sunday), Euro 5 vehicle with a minimum capacity of 23 - currently operated by Go North East.
  
• Services 93/94 and 97 (Gateshead services): 4 PVR (Early morning and late evening journeys), Euro 5 vehicle with a minimum capacity of 36 - currently operated by Go North East.
  
• Services 135/136 (Downhill/Hylton Circular): 3 PVR (Early morning journeys), Euro 5 vehicle with a minimum capacity of 23 - currently operated by Go North East.
  
• Service 592 (Roker - Doxford International): 1 PVR weekdays only, Euro 5 vehicle with a minimum capacity of 23 - currently operated by Gateshead Central Taxis.
  
• Service 593 (Pallion - Doxford International): 1 PVR weekdays only, Euro 5 vehicle with a minimum capacity of 23 - currently operated by Gateshead Central Taxis.
  

There has been lots of discussion on this forum recently regarding the development of bus networks, and what operators do to improve patronage and drive growth on their bus services. There has been a lot of suggestion that the use of better on-board features such as free Wi-Fi, USB charging points and contactless payments help drive growth, whilst next stop announcements improve accessibility. There has also been some suggestions that this isn't enough, and operators should be looking to improve their networks by providing better services which are more catered towards the current market.

It's quite disappointing to see that in this latest batch of tenders, neither of those are deemed important enough (with the same timetables from last year being used again, and the removal of incentive for operators to provide a better quality service).

Just thought i'd start a thread for any F1 fans out there.
What do you think will happen to the order this season?

Been noted on the Busesnortheast Facebook page that GNE have SN64 CTU (noted as 9119 on the same post) on loan from Wright.

Just an idea. I don't know what JH coaches do (I think Regent Centre & Four Lane Ends) on Plate Day but if we're likely to get "normality", would a shuttle from Gosforth Park to Newcastle after racing not be an idea? Obviously pricing would need to be competitive against a taxi but would save a walk to Great North Rd for the 43/44/45 as well as offering better links.

Isn’t it about time all the fleetlists were updated

So this may cause a bit of an agument but I'm saying my opinion 
I think the North Tyneside network needs looking at a bit. Mainly the routes and problems. I'm gonna say a few and people can agree or disagreement but here's mine

Number 1. The 1A 1B Coaster network needs looking at. Mainly some reason are is the Metrocenter part seems a bit pointless. It takes nearly 30 mins to get there from Gateshead. You have faster connections from Newcastle and Gateshead to get there. Especially the buses on market Street get to Gateshead the same way with the 1a and 1B. 

Number 2. The little coaster network. Ever since the changes back in March of 2021 they have fallen apartments major. The branding no longer makes sense anymore. Plus if you live along the 42/42A route after forest Hall (42) and Quorum Business Park (42A) to get to North Shields now you ether have to travel all the way to Wallsend to get a bus to North Shields or North Tyneside hospital or change to the Gateshead Central Taxis 335 at Four Lane Ends right till after Benton Asda or the metro from Four Lane ends. 

Number 3. The 42A route. This one may seem strange to some people. But if metro break down between Kingston Park and Airport. Only bus you have is the 42A with it being once an hour. (Postive as well on this one) the 42A between Four Lane Ends and Wallsend is amazing seeing many people use that. Once there wasn't a bus between Four Lane Ends and Wallsend so well done on that part. 

Number 4. Rebranded them. I think the little coaster should remain on some 11 as that makes sense. But for the rest I'm not sure. 

Number 5. The buses. I think the Solos should be taken of. Seeing Decker's on some of them or longer buses would be better as lately the solos have been breaking down quite a bit. 

Sorry for it being so long. But this is just my opinion on the North Tyneside network. I'm not saying Go North East are doing a bad job. But some things could be changed to make it between. I can understand if this is deleted but just my opinion. Would love to hear people response. I respect go North East and do not hate them at all. Just some the to be chance or sorted with the routes

Havent long seen this on the Sunderland Antiquarian Society fb page.

https://www.facebook.com/350583321620817...987727913/

It looks like a hand-drawn map of the Corporation (what is now SNE) network in Sunderland in 1959.
Appreciate some of the estates aren't built, but it's quite amazing how much of the network now is pretty much the same as it was then. 
Here's me thinking the network we have now that I similar to 1987 was bad... I'm going to have to refer back to 1959 now!

Rumour has it 5501-5504 are to be Volvo B7RLE / Wright Eclipse 2 369 - 372 from EYMS

Martijn confirmed in his update that the Solo's on the X20 are likely to be replaced with longer buses once lockdown is over.

I would imagine these will be the Streetlites?


Streetlites in X-Lines livery?

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No idea where the Solo's will go though - maybe 3? back on the X6/X7?

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https://www.facebook.com/100009920923911...4275191589 - @ 14:20