Greater Manchester operators say they will invest £100million in a quantum leap in the city region’s bus network as an alternative to a London-style contracting regime, but they also face tough penalties if they fail to comply with clean air zone standards being mooted for 2021
FOCUS ON NORTH-WEST ENGLAND
Two of the biggest issues facing bus operations in Greater Manchester are the possible re-regulation of routes in a franchising regime and the planned introduction of a clean air zone (CAZ) across the entire city region, with penalties imposed on vehicles that do not meet the required emission standard.
Although the mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, has yet to announce any definite move to franchising, he is eager to see changes in the way bus services are delivered and conveys the impression that franchising is the default position unless he can be convinced of an alternative.
In January, the city region’s bus operators — working under the OneBus banner that unites 18 commercial undertakings — launched what they describe as the ‘ground-breaking’ alternative of a £100million partnership blueprint to revolutionise the bus network and deliver on the region’s world-class ambitions.
Those 18 opera…
