June 27 2022
Legislation alone is not enough to transform Wales’ bus services and tackle climate change says CPT Cymru.
Responding to Welsh Government’s bus reform white paper One Network, One Timetable, One Ticket CPT Cymru highlights the shared challenges in improving bus services in Wales.
CPT Cymru Director Josh Miles said:
“Wales’ bus network is a key part of the economic and social fabric of the nation and we welcome Welsh Government’s efforts to improve services for passengers.
“Legislation is an important tool to support services, but it alone will not be enough to lead a transformation. If we are to tackle climate change, then all partners involved in bus services, including Welsh Government and bus operators, need to work closely together and tackle our shared challenges.
“In our view, the white paper could be strengthened in three ways. Firstly, a broader range of policy levers should be included in the legislation, such as a statutory Welsh Partnership model, which would bring operators and local authorities together quickly to support services.
“Second, Welsh Government should clarify responsibilities over the delivery of bus policy in Wales by equipping regional transport bodies with the resources to invest in services and bus priority measures.
“Finally, to avoid a period of uncertainty that delays investment in improvements in services for passengers, we now need to see a clear timetable and a solid financial commitment to fund the changes Welsh Government propose.”
“Our estimates show Welsh Government’s preferred franchising model could cost up to £61m per year. A clear business case would help to deliver clarity on the potential costs to the public purse, and CPT Cymru wants to work with Welsh Government to ensure this is realistic and deliverable.”
Contacts:
Joshua Miles
CPT Cymru Director
The full consultation response can be downloaded here.