The Campaign for Better Transport’s Better Transport Week enters its second day, centred around the theme of “Better by Bus.” Locally, however, we are acutely aware that buses are not always a viable option due to a decade of service cuts and discontinued routes. Just this month, Arriva North East announced yet another round of cuts (Northern Echo, 1 June 2023).

Better Transport Week presents us with a prime opportunity to reimagine our bus industry and wholeheartedly embrace public ownership. The case for public ownership is undeniably compelling, holding the potential to revolutionise our transport network.

We are being short-changed. Over the course of ten years leading up to 2019, shareholders have pocketed nearly £1.5 billion, while fares have surged by 71% since 2005. Astonishingly, average bus fares have skyrocketed by a staggering 403% since privatisation. However, these exorbitant price hikes have not resulted in improved services; instead, we’ve witnessed the slashing of over 3,000 routes in the past decade.

We cannot turn a blind eye to these significant amounts of money being siphoned away from the system. Transport for Quality of Life points out that public ownership could unlock annual savings of £506 million, a sum sufficient to procure 1,356 new electric buses. These saving should be utilised to develop new routes for our community and economy, integrating bus travel into people’s daily lives. If we are to ever transition to a green and sustainable economy, we must recognise the indispensable role of a frequent, convenient, and reliable public transport system.

The government has a predilection for headline-grabbing gimmicks and is currently touting the £2 bus fare cap. However, the effectiveness of this cap hinges entirely on the availability of a high-quality and dependable service. Regrettably, in East Durham, people are frequently left waiting for buses that never materialise, without any notice or advanced warning from the operators. Such a failure to provide basic transport services can have dire consequences for individuals, from missed appointments and absences from class to being late for work. This failure reverberates throughout society, with the ripple effect impacting missed NHS appointments, businesses struggling to connect with customers, or workers losing their jobs due to chronic lateness. No amount of apologies or excuses can repair the harm inflicted on those who bear the brunt of a failing public transport system. On day 2 of Better Transport Week, I believe we need to embrace public ownership as a means to enhance service quality and reliability, enabling the establishment of a truly integrated transport network that caters to the evolving needs of our communities and offers dependable and efficient transport options.

As we focus on today’s theme of “Better by Bus,” we cannot overlook the pivotal role that public ownership plays in fostering environmental sustainability. To collectively reduce emissions and combat congestion, we need to encourage more individuals to choose buses over private cars. Achieving a green economy hinges on creating sustainable transport networks, an objective that the private sector has failed to fulfil.

During Better Transport Week, we must be candid and acknowledge that it is the operators who are letting down our communities and economy. Their single-minded pursuit of profits blinds them to the broader significance of an accessible and affordable public transport network for both society and the wider economy.

Private companies are driven by profit motives and are ill-suited to meet the diverse needs of the community or contribute to the collective goals we hold as a society.

A future that is “Better by Bus” requires us to seize the opportunity to prioritise passengers’ interests over profits. We must wholeheartedly embrace the advantages of public ownership, including cost savings, improved services, reduced fares, and a system that is committed to meeting the goals we set as a nation for public transport.

Together, let us champion this progressive approach, transforming the bus industry into a bastion of connectivity, affordability, and environmental stewardship.

To learn more about the campaign for public ownership visit: WeOwnIt