June 02 2025
The Second Reading of the Bus Services Bill is taking place in the House of Commons on Monday 2nd June. The Confederation of Passenger Transport has been working closely with the Department for Transport on behalf of bus operators and the wider industry.
Graham Vidler, Chief Executive of the Confederation of Passenger Transport, said:
“Bus travel in England grew by 15% last year, the fastest rate for half a century, demonstrating healthy demand for journeys up and down the country. The second reading of the Bus Services Bill today is a welcome step forward in prioritising Britain’s favourite mode of public transport.
“Bus operators share the Government’s goal of delivering frequent, reliable and affordable services. To be truly ambitious in meeting demand, the Bus Services Bill needs to be matched with funding not just to preserve the existing network but to add additional bus routes.
“Extra funding of £205 million a year in the Treasury’s upcoming Spending Review would be sufficient to build the bus network by 5% - enough to add 36 million miles of bus travel annually. That would be a modest sum in the context of the Department for Transport’s annual budget of £40 billion. And the quickest, easiest way of improving buses would be to encourage local authorities to speed up journeys by investing in bus lanes and priority schemes.”