Open consultation

Proposed changes to bus franchising guidance

Applies to England

Summary

Seeking views on proposed changes to the Department for Transport’s guidance on setting up a bus franchising scheme.

This consultation closes at

Consultation description

The government is determined to deliver better bus services, grow passenger numbers and drive opportunity to under-served regions.

As part of this, it has committed to put bus services back into the hands of local leaders by removing barriers that currently limit the bus franchising process.

The bus franchising guidance sets out how the franchising legislation operates in practice and sets out the statutory duties that a franchising authority or auditor must have regard to in exercising relevant functions of the guidance.   

The consultation seeks views on updates to the guidance to remove more technical barriers to franchising and support safer and more accessible services.

This page contains:

  • a consultation document with details of proposed changes and questions about the proposals
  • a copy of draft revised franchising guidance to reflect the new process
  • a link to an online form for you to respond to our questions

Read the consultation document alongside the draft revised guidance and respond to the questions to tell us what you think.

Alongside publication of this consultation, we have laid a statutory instrument in Parliament to open up franchising to all local transport authorities.

Documents

Draft revised bus franchising guidance

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email webmasterdft@dft.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Ways to respond

or

Complete a response form and either

Email to:

busreform.consult@dft.gov.uk

Write to:

Bus Franchising Consultation
2nd Floor, Great Minster House
33 Horseferry Road
London
SW1P 4DR

Updates to this page

Published 9 September 2024

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