Campaigners in Scotland are calling for public control of bus services as they argue that buses have become too expensive and unreliable for many people who rely on them for transportation. The Poverty Alliance is advocating for more councils to take back authority over buses to address the issues faced by passengers. In a public petition to be debated by MSPs, the re-regulation of buses is being pushed as a priority due to continuous fare increases and route cancellations over the years.
Peter Kelly, the chief executive of the Poverty Alliance, highlighted that individuals with lower incomes struggle with the high costs and inconsistent service of buses, limiting their mobility and impacting their well-being. Unlike other cities, Edinburgh currently maintains public ownership of its local bus fleet, which is viewed as a model for success. Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) has expressed intentions to adopt a similar system in Greater Glasgow, moving towards a franchise model like those in London and Manchester.
However, the transition could take up to seven years and would require additional funding of at least £45 million annually. Kelly and other advocates argue that this timeline is too long and are urging the Scottish Government to expedite the process to improve public transportation accessibility for all, especially those in poverty. While local authorities gained bus franchising powers in 2019, limited financial resources prevent many councils from effectively utilizing them.
The bus industry in Scotland, once privatised by Margaret Thatcher’s Tory Government in the 1980s, has seen a decline in passenger numbers. Campaigners are pressing for immediate action to enable public control and ownership of buses to create a more inclusive and efficient transportation network. Transport Scotland has stated that local transport authorities have been empowered with tools to address transport challenges, encouraging the utilization of available options like partnership working, franchising, and local authority-operated services to ensure accessible public transport throughout Scotland.