Guidance

Setting up a bus franchising scheme

Guidance for local authorities in England on how to set up a bus franchising to improve local bus services.

• From: Department for Transport
• Published: 27 November 2017
• Last updated: 27 March 2024 — See all updates

Applies to England

Documents

Setting up a bus franchising scheme

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Details

Guidance explaining how mayoral combined authorities and other local transport authorities in England can:

• establish franchising for bus services in line with the Bus Services Act 2017
• use this mechanism to deliver their bus service improvement plans

This guidance states the statutory and non-statutory processes along with the legal process of establishing bus franchising.

Bus franchising is one of two options available to local authorities when working in partnership with bus operators. The other alternative is an enhanced partnership.

Published 27 November 2017
Last updated 27 March 2024 + show all updates

1. 27 March 2024

   Updated guidance published.

2. 17 September 2019

   Addition of service permit appeal procedures.

3. 27 March 2018

   An additional paragraph (1.107) provides further guidance regarding reducing the area to which a franchising scheme relates, or revoking a franchising scheme.

4. 27 November 2017

   First published.