21 Apr 2026
The Department for Transport has announced a £3 million funding package to support six mayoral combined authorities in England to develop bus franchising schemes, aimed at improving local bus services and giving greater control to local leaders.
The funding will support the transition to franchised bus models in:
- Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
- North East Combined Authority
- West Yorkshire Combined Authority
- South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority
- West Midlands Combined Authority
- Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority
The funding is intended to help local authorities shape services to better meet the needs of passengers, including through new routes, fare reductions and service improvements.
Examples of current initiatives include discounted fares for young people in the North East, extended fare caps for children in the West of England, and new or expanded routes in several areas. In Norfolk, a recently introduced service connecting Great Yarmouth, Caister and Norwich provides links for several rural communities that previously had no direct bus connection to the city.
The government states that these measures form part of wider reforms to the bus system, alongside legislative changes, with the aim of improving service reliability, affordability and connectivity.
If you or a colleague have a professional interest in rural transport, or are working to improve connectivity in your area, our upcoming RSN member-exclusive seminar offers a valuable opportunity to explore the latest challenges, insights and solutions. Book your place here.
