Sam Carling, MP for North West Cambridgeshire, and Andrew Pakes, MP for Peterborough, are calling on residents in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough to participate in the ongoing bus franchising consultation before it closes on 20 November. The consultation, run by the Labour-led Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA), is an opportunity for residents to voice their concerns and needs for future bus services across the region.
Bus franchising brings local bus services back under public control, removing them from purely private ownership. Through this model, the CPCA – which is run by elected politicians – becomes a franchising authority and plans routes, sets fares, and schedules services, while operators bid competitively to run these services. The approach aims to create a fully integrated transport network that puts community needs first.
A successful example of franchising in action is Greater Manchester’s Bee Network, which unites buses, trams, cycling, and walking routes under one system to make public transport seamless and convenient. The benefits of franchising can include streamlined ticketing (including through-ticketing, so people can change buses to get to their destination without buying a second ticket), consistent services, and improved customer satisfaction. By moving beyond the privately owned, deregulated model, which often allows operators to select profitable routes, franchising encourages a more efficient, community-focused network.
Carling and Pakes emphasised the critical role that public input plays in building a bus system that’s accessible to all, especially in rural areas where transport options are currently limited, affecting access to schools, jobs, healthcare, and daily essentials.
“Bus franchising opens up a unique chance to shape services that meet the real needs of both our urban and rural communities,” said Carling. “For towns like Ramsey and villages such as Wittering, where current bus services are sparse or infrequent, franchising could bring essential improvements, ensuring that reliable transport isn’t limited to more populated areas.”
Pakes echoed the importance of public involvement, stating “This consultation is the public’s chance to influence the future of our region’s transport. A robust and inclusive bus network can transform travel across Peterborough and Cambridgeshire, and each person’s input will help tailor the service to our community’s needs.”
Carling and Pakes also commended ongoing efforts by Labour’s Mayor – Dr Nik Johnson – and the Combined Authority to subsidise key routes and collaborate with operators to support essential services in preparation for franchising. They expressed optimism that these initial measures, combined with the Government’s anticipated Better Buses Bill, will bring about a bus system that provides fair, equitable service coverage throughout the region.