Courts give backing for GM to advance bus franchising plans

A judicial review into the decision-making process behind Greater Manchester’s plans for reform of the city-regions bus network has backed the Mayor’s decision to move forward with franchising proposals.

Plans to bring buses back under public control for the first time since the 1980s in the city-region, replacing the current model with a London-style franchising system, were put to two public consultations, both before and during the Covid-19 pandemic and GMCA’s proposals garnered overwhelming public support. The move to shake-up how bus services were run also formed a key tenet in Mayor Andy Burnham’s 2021 re-election campaign and work on moving forward with transport pledges were among his first announcements of his second term in office.

The decision to move forward with proposals were however challenged by two of Greater Manchester’s private bus companies through a judicial review in the courts. Stagecoach and Rotala had argued that the consultation processes had not adequately considered ‘fundamental changes’ to the transport market brought about by the coronavirus pandemic.

On 9th March, courts ruled in favour of GMCA, with plans for bus franchising to move forward that will see fares and services set by TfGM and bus companies invited to bid to provide the services, in a manner similar to how London buses and the rail network are operated.

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: 

“This is truly fantastic news for everyone outside London who wishes to see a return to a bus service that puts people ahead of profit. We were always confident that GMCA had followed all correct legal processes and that the decision to franchise buses and bring them under public control was lawful and right. We’re delighted that this strong legal decision, where we won on every point, validates and endorses everything we have done to date.

“Following the strong mandate from the Greater Manchester public, who wanted buses bringing back under public control, it is frustrating that the two companies concerned pursued this action and I am pleased that the court has dismissed all of their arguments.”

While Rotala is understood be considering appealing the ruling, Stagecoach have accepted the courts’ decision. In a statement accepting the findings of the judicial review, a Stagecoach spokesperson commented:

“We will work constructively with GMCA to help deliver the Mayor’s ambitions for the region’s bus network, as well as the Government’s wider objectives in the National Bus Strategy, and look forward to the Mayor securing the significant taxpayer support required to deliver the franchising system.”

Mayor Andy Burnham is now set to reveal on Monday 14th March a more detailed update on plans for implementing bus franchising in the city-region, with the new system expected to be rolled-out in Stockport in 2025. He is also set to call on government for additional transport funding for the city-region, suggesting Greater Manchester offers a template for levelling-up public transport in other parts of Northern England. Andy Burnham continued:

“Access to reliable affordable public transport is central to the government’s commitment to levelling up and to our net zero ambitions. We want Government to join us in a partnership that uses Greater Manchester as a pilot to allow it to become the first London-style public transport system outside of London, as the Government promised in its Levelling Up White Paper, providing a package of both post-Covid and longer-term funding.

“We know that this result is important not just for Greater Manchester, but for other city-regions too; such as Liverpool City Region and South Yorkshire who have both announced that they are taking steps to introduce a franchised bus network. We hope that this judgement today will pave the way for them to progress with their ambitions to bring buses under public control. This ruling is a green light for the North to retake control of its bus and public transport system.”