Bus services in England have seen several shifts over the decades. Until the 1980s, most were operated by publicly owned companies, often under the management of local councils. However, during that decade, the majority of council-run bus companies were sold off.
London was an exception, where Transport for London maintained control over routes, timetables, and fares, with private operators bidding to run these services for a fixed fee.
Recently, there has been a resurgence in the idea of local authority control over bus services. Greater Manchester led the charge by bringing its services back under public control, a move that has been closely watched by other regions.
With new legislation being laid before Parliament, more local authorities in England are set to receive powers to introduce similar franchising systems. Some see this as the start of a potential ‘revolution’ that could rejuvenate public transportation in England.
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