Franchised bus networks: Cultivating trust with transport data

Author: Miki Szikszai, CEO and founder, Snapper Services

The 2024 general election could reshape the UK's public transit landscape. Like many sectors, transit authorities will be assessing how a new government would address the main challenges faced by the industry today. There's no doubt that Net Zero, union strikes, and funding will be placed in the spotlight. But among these priorities, conversations around franchising will continue to take place if a change in government occurs.

Based on the current policy settings, franchising looks here to stay, and if anything, it might only accelerate with a change of government.

Franchised bus services place the design of the network under the control of a regional authority. Meaning that the authority manages routes, schedules and service standards, determining where and when vehicles operate. The overarching objective of franchising is to cultivate a more cohesive and responsive bus network that caters to the unique needs of local communities while aligning with broader regional objectives.

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