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02
Dec 2023
Tory mayoral candidate pledges North Yorkshire bus franchising assessment
The Conservative Party candidate to be the first Mayor of York and North Yorkshire is prepared to use franchising to improve local bus services.
Bus franchising, which is used in London, Manchester and in numerous cities across Europe, means that bus operators are only able to provide services under contract to the local transport authority.
According to the Urban Transport Group, the current free market method means bus operators are free to run whatever services they like and decide on their own fares and vehicles, resulting in “an uncoordinated network with a confusing array of ticketing options”.
Keane Duncan, the 28-year-old Conservative candidate for the York and North Yorkshire combined authority mayoral election in May 2024, has pledged to assess whether bus franchising is an affordable method to improve transport.
He said:
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If Mr Duncan wins the election, he could be the first Tory metro mayor to introduce bus franchising.
Estimated costs for the scheme in Greater Manchester were £135m, and while Mr Duncan said there are no estimations of cost for franchising buses in York and North Yorkshire, the assessment would determine this.
Mr Duncan said:
Once the York and North Yorkshire combined authority is set up, it will have control of a long-term investment fund, with £18m per year of funding promised by the government over 30 years.
Mr Duncan said:
Henri Murison, chief executive of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, said:
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