What does the alarming loss of bus services in the North mean for our areas and communities?

Tuesday 22nd August 2023

Between 2004 and 2019, annual bus vehicle mileage in the North shrank by 114,000,000 miles – more than the distance between the earth and the sun.

A recent report from the County Councils Network has exposed the decline and fragmentation of bus networks in county and rural areas of England. It shows that “more than one in every four bus services has vanished in county areas over the last decade”, with particularly dramatic falls in local authority-supported services.

COVID-19 is a part of this story, however the North and other areas of England outside of London entered the pandemic having already seen sharp declines in the coverage and frequency of services. Statistics published by the Department for Transport show that, between 2004 and 2019, annual bus vehicle mileage in the North shrank by 114,000,000 miles. Underlying that are fewer routes, covering smaller areas, and doing so less often for less of the day.

Local connectivity is a fundamental part of Transport for the North’s revised Strategic Transport Plan. This plan sets out our regional vision for the transport system in the North of England, and how we will work with our partners to deliver decarbonisation, economic transformation, and a transport system that works for all areas and communities in the North. High quality connectivity – particularly local bus services – are central to the delivery of this vision.

Working to support local buses

Alongside our Strategic Transport Plan, we are also undertaking two other areas of work to support local bus services.

First, we are supporting local authority partners with bus service improvement plans – ensuring they have the data and evidence they need to improve services.

Second, we are developing a bus policy position to advocate for investment in bus services, and identify areas where Transport for the North can add value to support this vital element of the transport system.

The worsening state of bus services is a significant part of the social exclusion challenge present in the North. Across our region, 3.3 million people live in areas with a high risk of social exclusion because of transport issues – that’s over one in five. In these areas, people face poor access to the key destinations needed for everyday life, and are often locked into car use, even where this causes them significant financial hardship.

Decline in bus services a cause for alarm

Our transport system is constantly evolving with innovative technologies, new ways of accessing services, and shifting behaviours. But despite this, the decline and fragmentation of local bus services is a major cause for alarm for three key reasons:

1. Buses are not just another way of getting around – they are vital social infrastructure – meaning they are part of what makes communities viable, resilient, and sustainable. This is particularly, but no means exclusively, the case for young and older people, and many people with disabilities. When done right, bus services can offer these populations easy and independent access to key destinations. Without them, that independence and resilience is often lost.
2. Buses are particularly important for people on low incomes, connecting them to better and more secure job opportunities. These populations are often least able to deal with disruptions and delays in their journeys and can face greater consequences when their journeys go wrong. Without them, these populations face greater risk of poverty, debt, poor health, and greater reliance on state support. This is bad for those affected and damaging to society.
3. Mode shift to public transport and active travel is necessary to deliver transport decarbonisation, and to ensuring that net zero is delivered in an equitable way. Electric vehicles are part of the solution, but so too are mode shift to public transport and active travel. Without this balanced approach, decarbonisation is likely to widen the already large gulf in access to key destinations present in our transport system today – with more poverty, inequality, and exclusion following on.

Buses are the lifeblood of local communities and to really support our communities, we need to invest in essential public transport systems. We also need to address the decline of the bus industry if we are to achieve our ambitions for the economy, climate change, social inclusion, and public health. TfN is actively working with local authorities and our other partners to make this case.