Transport Secretary visits Peterborough

September 13, 2024

Transport Secretary Louise Haigh was joined by Mayor Dr Nik Johnson and leaders in Peterborough on 9 September where she announced sweeping changes to put bus powers back in the hands of local leaders.

The Government’s national bus reforms aim to grow passenger numbers, reduce patchy services and bring better quality bus services for all.

The Transport Secretary found out more about how the Combined Authority’s own agenda for bus reform has accelerated this year. May saw the launch of a new Tiger bus pass, offering £1 fares for under 25s, the first eight of 30 new or improved bus routes coming online, paid for by a Mayoral precept, and the launch of a bus franchising consultation asking for views on the future of how buses are run.

Already those improvements are making a difference, with the Transport Secretary hearing how more than 24,000 people had now applied for the Tiger pass, saving young people money while they get to places of work, study and leisure more sustainably.

She arrived at Peterborough Station and was updated on the Peterborough Station Quarter project, finding out about the station revamp and plans to revitalise the area surrounding it to improve connectivity, accessibility and overall experience for residents, businesses, and visitors. There she met Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Dr Nik Johnson, Deputy Mayor Cllr Anna Smith and Peterborough MP Andrew Pakes.

She then boarded a bus to head for ARU Peterborough, the city’s new University developed in partnership with the Combined Authority, Peterborough City Council and Anglia Ruskin University. There she met Sam Carling, MP for North West Cambridgeshire and Professor Ross Renton, the university’s Principal. She also met student nurses studying on campus, and spoke to them about bus services.

Mayoral Combined Authorities, like the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority already have significant powers over buses, but legislation is being introduced in the House of Commons today to give all Local Transport Authorities across England new powers to run their own bus services. The Government wants local leaders across the country to deliver services in a way which suits the needs of their communities.

The new Better Buses Bill, which will follow this first Statutory Instrument, aims to end the ‘postcode lottery’ by taking steps to improve bus services right across the country.

The Combined Authority launched its bus franchising consultation last month, asking for views on the future of the region’s buses, and runs until November 20. Everyone is welcome to find out more and take part, by visiting https://cpca-yourvoice.co.uk/bus-franchising-consultation/.

Transport Secretary Louise Haigh said: “Buses are the lifeblood of our communities, but for too many people it has become impossible to rely on local services, as routes have been slashed and timetables hollowed out.

“Today is the first stop on our journey to delivering better buses across the country. After decades of failed deregulation, local leaders will finally have the powers to provide services that deliver for passengers. And we are taking steps to support local leaders to deliver improved bus services faster and cheaper than ever before.

“With local communities firmly back in the driving seat, our bus revolution will save vital routes up and down the country and put passengers first.”

Mayor Dr Nik Johnson said: “This is a government that understands what the communities and economies of places like Cambridgeshire and Peterborough need. Good quality public transport is a vital part of people’s lives, and none more so than local bus services, so it’s a huge boost to see much-needed change coming to life. As a combined authority we’re doing everything we can to reform the way buses are managed across the region, and having government on our side makes a massive difference.”

Councillor Dennis Jones, Leader of Peterborough City Council, said: “Buses play a crucial role in connecting communities, reducing traffic congestion, and providing accessible transportation for everyone. Being able to provide a reliable, efficient and regular bus network for people to travel across the city and to areas outside of Peterborough is important to help our residents to get work, visit friends and family and explore the area.”

Professor Ross Renton, Principal of ARU Peterborough, said: “We know from experience here at ARU Peterborough that affordable and reliable bus travel is crucial for young people to be able to access life-changing opportunities, whether that’s attending universities like ours, or travelling for apprenticeships or paid employment.

“ARU Peterborough is a new university designed to improve higher skill levels and raise aspiration in the local area, and we rely on good transport connections for this to be successful. Unlike many universities, around half of our students already live locally and from surveys we know that almost 30% of our students regularly use public transport to travel onto campus.

“From day one, we’ve made sure that transport shouldn’t be a barrier to learning. We’ve prioritised offering free travel to our open days, giving all young people the chance to learn about the opportunities available to them, and new initiatives such as the £1 Tiger bus pass for the under-25s, recently introduced by the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority, promise to make a big difference for our students.”