In September 2025, our regional transport authority – SPT – finally approved ambitious plans to take our bus network back into public control using the new bus franchising powers in the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019.
But the Scottish Government are now holding things up.
The statutory guidance that SPT needs to progress bus franchising has now been delayed by six years by the Scottish Government.
And, when this is finally published, we will be stuck with the most complex and time-consuming bus franchising powers in the UK for SPT and other transport authorities to use.
Please watch our new animation (above) to find out more and take two minutes to email your MSPs to demand action to speed up the process of delivering Better Buses.
Suggested Email:
Subject: ๐ Please help deliver Better Buses
To: Send to your MSPs using our ActionButton (above)
Dear [MSP Name],
Iโm your constituent and Iโm writing to ask for your help to speed up the process of bus franchising in Scotland.
The new bus franchising powers in the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 offer a once-in-a-generation opportunity to take our buses back into public control. This will mean bus routes can be planned to meet our communitiesโ needs, to connect seamlessly with ferries, trains, subway and active travel, and we can have one simple, affordable ticket for use across all transport modes.
Iโm delighted to see that Scotlandโs biggest regional transport authority โ SPT โ has finally approved ambitious plans to take forward bus franchising as part of the new Strathclyde Regional Bus Strategy.[1] This will create a blueprint for other transport authorities to follow.
But SPT is now being held back by the Scottish Government, who have created the most complex and time-consuming bus franchising legislation in the UK.
Watch this video to find out more: https://youtu.be/j9ND1ZDFRgI
Please take two minutes to watch this short video explaining the issues with the legislation and the extent to which Scotland now lags behind England and Wales in implementing bus franchising.
Ahead of the election in May 2026, we need all political parties to commit to supporting the roll-out of bus franchising in your Holyrood manifestos or we could be waiting until 2031 to see any change on Scotland’s streets.
Your manifesto commitments must include:
- Publishing franchising guidance immediately
This has now been delayed by more than six years since the Transport Act 2019 was passed. - Simplifying the legislation within the first 100 days
Any new Scottish Government must work fast to introduce a short โTransport (Amendment) (Scotland) Billโ to simplify the Scottish bus franchising powers to bring them in line with Englandโs now tried-and-tested Bus Services Act 2017. - Committing funding to SPT and other regional transport authorities
English city regions have received between ยฃ1bn – ยฃ2.5bn each[2] to deliver and/or enhance bus franchising and other transport infrastructure over the next five years. Scottish city regions must get similar levels of investment.
If you want to find out more, please read Better Buses for Strathclydeโs evidence to the Scottish Parliament โ part one[3] and part two[4] โ which explains these issues in detail and clearly sets out what needs to be done to resolve them.
Please make sure you watch and share this video with your colleagues:
https://youtu.be/j9ND1ZDFRgI
And let me know what action your party plans to take to help deliver Better Buses.
With best wishes,
[Add your name]
[Add your address and postcode]
References
[1] September 2025, Strathclyde Regional Bus Strategy, Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT)
[2] June 2025, Biggest ever investment in city region local transport as Chancellor vows the โRenewal of Britainโ, UK Government
[3] September 2025, Better Buses for Strathclyde written submission, PE2116/R: Accelerate the implementation of bus franchising powers, Scottish Parliament Petitions
[4] September 2025, Better Buses for Strathclyde written submission, PE2116/S: Accelerate the implementation of bus franchising powers, Scottish Parliament Petitions
