The last 12 months have been significant for the region’s buses and 2023 promises to be no different.
In March, members of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority gave their backing to proposals to adopt a franchise model. This would bring buses in the region under the greatest level of public control since the 1980s and put control of services, fares and timetables back in local hands.
The franchising plans are still being developed and will require negotiations with existing private operators before a franchising model can be fully introduced. Along the M62, Manchester is slightly further ahead in pursuing a similar framework and a number of developments from the neighbouring city have given a boost to Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram’s public transport vision.
