How the ‘Bus Revolution’ could deliver better connectivity and prospects for millions of people in the East
Buses are the most used type of public transport in the East, yet it’s no secret that bus services have faced some real challenges over the last few years. Across the country, there has been a declining number of routes and reduced frequency. In the Transport East area, the number of local journeys has fallen from 105m in 2010 to 98m by 2019 and, following the Covid-19 pandemic, now stands at 79m.
The new Government has declared a bus revolution, with ambitions to support and extend vital bus routes, and to provide more powers to communities to take back control of bus services. Through our previous work, Transport East is well placed to support this ambition across the East.
Buses are the most accessible form of public transport, connecting people to work, education, healthcare and leisure services. They are particularly beneficial to those who are older, younger, disabled, experiencing physical or mental health issues, and those who have limited or no access to private transport.
Also, they’re benefitting urban and rural communities in a sustainable way by helping to reduce traffic congestion and improve local air quality when people choose them over private vehicles. With so many of these outcomes aligning to our Transport Strategy, we are committed to helping enhance the services available and making the bus an attractive choice for everyone.
So, how have we supported the region’s buses so far?
Since Transport East was initiated, we’ve worked with our Local Transport Authorities (LTAs) and other partners in the bus sector to understand the national and local challenges and opportunities. This includes supporting applications for government funding, making the case for investing in rural communities and bringing together partners in our Enhanced Partnership and Bus Forum meetings to share good practice.
We’ve rounded up the various way’s we’re bringing the bus revolution to the East to improve sustainable connectivity and energise our rural and coast communities.
1. Providing support for Government funding schemes
Over the last three years, we’ve supported the East’s LTA’s with applications for Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) funding and Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) funding scheme.
Launched in 2022, BSIP is an initiative from the Bus Back Better scheme, which acknowledges the financial operating challenges bus operators have faced and aims to increase patronage and revenue, while stabilising current bus service levels. The additional funding helps LTAs create new routes, support those which are struggling and increase frequency where needed. All of this has the potential to sustainably connect communities and link people to the opportunities and services they need to thrive.
Transport East offered evidence and insight from reports to support the applications for each LTA. Funding has been delegated across two tranches and to date, each LTA has received:
- Norfolk – £49.5m
- Essex – £9.7m
- Suffolk – £3.6m
- Southend-on-Sea – £980,000
- Thurrock – £860,000
Norfolk received their funding first in 2022 and have already seen positive results with an 18% increase in ridership following the funding, increased frequency on previous routes and new routes being implemented to rural communities.
Not only is this funding an example of how investment can provide tangible benefits to communities, it also supports our regional Transport Strategy to connect growing places, energise rural and coastal communities, all while working toward decarbonising transport.
Other LTAs received funding from 2023. Learn more about each LTA’s BSIP below:
Sticking with the decarbonising theme, Transport East has also backed LTAs funding applications to rollout electric buses and suitable infrastructure though the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) scheme.
Norfolk County Council received £3.3m in 2022, with an additional £11.5m in 2023 to deliver greener buses and further enhance public transport as an appealing option for journeys. 2023 saw the second stage of ZEBRA funding award Essex County Council £4.8m.
2. Helped energise rural communities through better bus provision
With one third of the East’s 3.5m population living in a rural area, buses provide an essential mode of transport for these communities. However, rural areas are often the victim in bus service decline, with many routes having been reduced or removed over the years.
This means people living rurally have a higher reliance on car ownership, leading to higher fuel costs and difficulties reducing emissions in the region. For some of these people, private car owner isn’t an option, and not having a bus route can lead to social exclusion from a lack of access to work, health and education services.
From our rural mobility survey, we also know bus as a mode of transport is poorly perceived across the region, with only 10% of respondents having a positive view of their parish’s access to bus.
We want to change this. As part of our rural work, we have brought together experts in rural mobility in our roundtables, with a specific roundtable in public transport.
Together, they highlighted how initiatives such as Demand Responsive Transport and the Community Transport sector can help fill the gap in missing rural routes, and shared presentations of where these innovative schemes are making a difference to connect people.
We will continue to investigate and discuss with experts how these modes of public transport could be used to improve connectivity for rural communities, and will work with LTAs to explore how innovative modes of public transport can connect our rural residents, something we’ve already touched upon in our Enhanced Partnership meetings and Bus Forums.
3. Partnership working to develop new methods of bus delivery
Enhanced Partnerships are a formal agreement between Local Authorities and bus operators to improve services, infrastructure, and coordination in a defined geographical area. It sets shared goals, such as better timetables, simpler fares, and improved facilities, while allowing operators to retain control over routes and services within a regulated framework. Each of the East’s five local transport authorities has an Enhanced Partnership, but how are we supporting them?
Transport East, along with England’s Economic Heartland and Transport for the South East, recently held an event which brought together stakeholders involved in delivering Enhanced Partnerships, and showcased the benefits they offer passengers, Local Authorities and operators.
The event provided an insight how they can work as an alternative method to bus franchising – something which the new government is keen to introduce in Local Authorities across the country. It also suggested ways to make Enhanced Partnerships more effective, which has been shared with the DfT. As Sub-national Transport Bodiess, we will continue to shape what Enhanced Partnerships can achieve to support the bus revolution in the East.
Our quarterly Bus Forums also bring together operators and LTAs to discuss current challenges with the region’s bus provision. The sessions encourage operators and LTA’s to share knowledge and opportunities which can be replicated in local geographies, and give us the chance to provide support, such as gathering insight and evidence, where possible and escalating joint issues to government.
What next?
We’re well placed to support the bus revolution across the East. As a partnership, we will continue to advocate for investment in urban and rural communities, accelerate the embedment of innovative and greener public transport options and work to understand how bus franchising and enhanced partnerships can be best implemented across the East. We are also working with the other STBs to explore how to accelerate the roll-out of more integrated ticketing, and have been supporting the campaign to keep bus journeys affordable through the fare cap.
We’ve seen positive examples of what can be achieved when investment is delivered and knowledge is shared, but much more is needed to convince people that buses are a reliable and suitable choice of transport for many activities.
As the region’s Sub-national Transport Body, we will continue to support the acceleration of plans to deliver of our region’s bus provision, ensuring every person in the East has the chance to thrive and help the region grow.