Franchise Brum's buses say Lib Dems

Cllr Colin Green has reiterated the need for Birmingham Buses to be improved and recommends franchising as a better model for the city and wider region. 

“It’s clear that the current model isn’t working. Routes are designed around commercial viability, not public need. National Express have a monopoly with 92% of the West Midlands market. Furthermore, National Express have withdrawn their BSIP commitment to achieve a zero-emission fleet by 2030.”

“Bus use is in decline in Birmingham because customers see them as infrequent, slow, unreliable, unsafe and disjointed. 

“The Mayor, Richard Parker, needs to deliver franchising and better services as we should be seeing an increase, not a decline, in bus use.” 

In June 2023, the Liberal Democrats brought a motion to council seeking improvements to local bus services. 

Back then Cllr Colin Green said: “Nationwide, deregulated bus services have not delivered.  In the 80s, it was hoped that competition would drive innovation, which would lead to better services.  Instead, we have near monopolies, the very opposite of innovation driving competition. 

“Bus users have several complaints, and it is fair to assume these reasons keep people in their cars.  Buses are too infrequent, don’t interconnect well and are not reliable enough.”  

“Deregulation has been reversed in London and public transport has flourished.”