Bus operator Rotala has won the right to appeal the decision which had cleared the road for bus reform in Greater Manchester. An unwelcome hurdle to Andy Burnham's plans to transform the bus network to bring cheaper fares and better timetables, the hearing is expected to now take place this summer.
It follows a long-awaited victory for reform in March, when a judge ruled against firms Stagecoach and Rotala, who claimed the process taken by leaders to move to a franchising system, where operators had to bid to run services under public control, was 'irrational' and 'unlawful'. Their arguments against the process included how changes wrought by Covid on the public transport network might impact the case for reform.
The Manchester Evening News has asked Transport for Greater Manchester and the Mayor's office for comment on just how big a blow this latest development is felt to be to leaders' ambitious plans to finally give Greater Manchester a London-style network. But there will no doubt be some disappointment following the long-awaited moment in March when, sitting at the Royal Courts of Justice, Mr Justice Julian Knowles ruled against the operators, adding: "Whilst I granted the plaintiffs permission to bring the review I dismiss the claims. In my judgement the mayor's decision and the process by which the Greater Manchester Combined Authority came to recommend the scheme was lawful."
