Local leaders face a crucial choice about how bus networks are organised because of the new Bus Services Act 2025, which allows councils and combined authorities to adopt different delivery models. While that flexibility is welcome, it also demands careful, evidence-led decision-making.
To help, the Confederation of Passenger Transport and consultants Frontier Economics have produced a practical handbook and decision-making toolkit for authorities across England – which has been endorsed by the Department for Transport, the Association of Transport Co-ordinating Officers, and the Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning and Transport.
The handbook and toolkit’s value lie in a structured appraisal method called multi‑criteria decision analysis, which can help authorities set clear objectives, shortlist feasible approaches and evaluate them against the outcomes that matter to local people.
The process starts by agreeing priorities: how do you balance aims to reduce car journeys, boost reliability, cut emissions, maintain rural links and improve accessibility for disabled passengers?
The answers shape which options are most suitable. The toolkit makes compromises visible, assesses value for money, tests whether markets can deliver and flags affordability limits, so councils can avoid unwelcome surprises down the line.
Risk assessment is integral to the process, as some delivery routes create upfront financial exposure or procurement challenges, while other partnership arrangements need strong governance to succeed. A documented, repeatable appraisal also strengthens engagement with operators, unions and communities, because discussions are based on shared evidence rather than opinion.
There is no universal answer to how to deliver good bus services and each area will benefit from its own unique model. But the handbook outlines some of the models available, and how they might work for areas such as compact cities, large urban areas or rural counties.
For authorities serious about reform, we hope these resources will be a starting point for local conversations and, ultimately, help to deliver better buses for all passengers.
- ‘Models for delivery of local bus networks’ can be downloaded from CPT website.