Bus franchising pilot to launch in North Yorkshire

A transport initiative in North Yorkshire is driving forward with new funding to explore how bus services could be improved for rural and coastal communities.

The Combined Authority has secured £564,000 to launch one of the UK’s first pilot programmes examining whether bus franchising could deliver more reliable, joined-up travel in areas where services are often limited. 

Under franchising, authorities can set routes, fares and service standards based on community need rather than commercial demand.

While franchising models have so far focused on major cities like Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire, this pilot will test how the approach could work across the York–Selby corridor, Scarborough’s coastal communities, the North York Moors, the Yorkshire Dales and the Richmondshire–Northallerton area.

The funding will support detailed studies into local travel needs, accessibility challenges and opportunities to create a simpler, more connected bus network. 

Officials say the aim is to improve access to essential services, reduce car dependence and enhance public transport for residents across the region.

David Skaith, mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said: “We know bus services just aren’t working for our rural and coastal communities. 

“This pilot puts York and North Yorkshire at the forefront of national work to fix that, not just in our region but across the country.

“In areas like ours, buses often run less frequently and over longer distances, and many depend on public funding to keep going. 

“There’s very little evidence about how franchising could support rural communities, and these studies will help fill that gap.

“Our findings will feed directly into future Government policy on rural transport, while also giving us a much clearer picture of what could work locally, what it might cost and how it could benefit our communities before we make any decisions about the future of bus services here.”

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