Andy Burnham plans to press ahead with his bid to bring buses in Greater Manchester back under public control as a fresh legal fight is launched.
The Greater Manchester mayor insists the first franchised bus services will still start from next year and serve the whole city-region by the end of 2024. It comes as bus operator Rotala, which owns Diamond, wins the right to appeal a decision which cleared the road for bus reform across Greater Manchester.
The bus firm, which lost the judicial review it brought alongside Stagecoach earlier this year, has now launched a new appeal on two 'very technical' issues. But Mr Burnham said he still plans to 'press ahead' with the major bus reforms.
