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Plans to reform the bus network in Greater Manchester can now go ahead unimpeded, following a Court of Appeal judgement ruled in the city-region’s favour.
Bus company Rotala, the city-region’s largest bus operator under the Diamond Plus brand, had appealed the findings of a Judicial Review into GMCA and TfGM’s consultation process over plans to introduced a London-style franchising model for bus services throughout the city-region. The Court of Appeal was unanimously rejected the appeal, an upheld the original decision, allowing Mayor Andy Burnham’s flagship bus reforms to move forward.
Rotala, along with Stagecoach which did not appeal the earlier ruling, had originally questioned the legality of the public consultation process, particularly in light of the changing travel habits of city-region residents brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, but a Judicial Review into GMCA and TfGM’s processes ruled in the local authority’s favour.
Responding to the judgement, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham commented:
“This is brilliant news for the people of Greater Manchester – and for anyone across the UK who cares about having a bus service that puts people ahead of shareholder profit.
“We were always very 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 we have comprehensively defeated the last legal challenge in the way of bringing buses under public control. The Court of Appeal’s judgment upholds the original decision of the High Court and unanimously rejects this appeal as without any merit.
“Throughout two separate consultations, the Greater Manchester public told us that they wanted buses bringing under public control and run for the benefit of the people; and it’s frustrating that this legal action has been pursued to prevent this going ahead. So I’m delighted that the court has dismissed all the operator’s arguments and has awarded all costs in our favour.
“We have already started to deliver the bus service that the people of Greater Manchester want and deserve.”
From 1st September this year, the city-region plans to introduce capped single bus fares of £2 for adults, and £1 for children, along with a £5 day ticket for use with all bus operators in a bid to simplify and reduce the cost of bus travel throughout Greater Manchester. TfGM will also introduce 220 new zero-emission buses as part of the deal. Franchised buses, operating under a single Bee Network livery (pictured) but with different operators invited to bid to run routes determined by the local authority, will be rolled out in Wigan, Bolton and parts of Salford from September 2023, before expanding across the city-region, reaching Stockport by the end of 2024.
Mayor Andy Burnham continued:
“This clear and unanimous judgment is another green light which means that we can now power ahead at full speed to deliver bus franchising across Greater Manchester as part of our Bee Network: an integrated, accessible and affordable ‘London-style’ transport system joining together buses, trams, cycling and walking.
“And I hope that the unanimous rejection of this appeal paves the way for other city regions such as Liverpool City Region and South Yorkshire to progress with their ambitions to bring buses under public control.”
Rotala, which operates from a depot in Bolton, has previously said that it would look to sell its Greater Manchester operations should its appeal be unsuccessful.