Leaders, campaigners and thousands of passengers were today united in celebration after a judge’s ruling swung in favour of major bus reform in Greater Manchester.
Following a judicial process watched with great interest both here and by leaders looking to take a similar path in other regions like Liverpool and South Yorkshire, Mr Justice Julian Knowles ruled against bus firms Stagecoach and Rotala, whose legal fight could have blocked a return of the buses to public control.
With passenger numbers still 25pc lower than before the pandemic, and lingering questions over future cashflow for services, the road ahead is unlikely to be free of obstacles. But the decision in favour of Greater Manchester Combined Authority has lifted a major barrier for Mayor Andy Burnham to forge ahead with a bold plan to transform Greater Manchester’s public transport network.
