Home ConsultationsHave your say on the future of our buses

Have your say on the future of our buses

We want to hear your views on the proposed Bus Franchising Scheme. Your feedback will help inform the final decision on how bus services are run in the North East.

The consultation is open for responses until 9am 28 September 2026.

Please note, full consultation documents can be found in the key documents section below.

Open

We want to know what you think about our plans for better bus services, so we make the right decisions for local people.

Buses are by far the most used public transport in the North East – people made 115 million journeys in 2024/25 for work, school, health appointments and all sorts of other reasons.

But the bus network has seen long-term decline. Over the past 15 years, passenger numbers and the number of miles operated have both fallen significantly, meaning fewer routes, less frequent services and reduced access in some areas.

We’ve heard from thousands of people about what matters most for transport, and we’re now consulting on whether a different approach - known as bus franchising - could create a better bus network for people across the North East.

Whether you use the bus now or not, or might do so if the service changed, we’d like to know what you think of our plans.

Have your say now

How buses are currently run

Bus services in the North East are currently deregulated. This means private bus companies decide routes, timetables, fares and service standards.

An Enhanced Partnership is in place between the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority (North East MSA), local authorities and bus companies. While this allows for joint working, operators still make most key decisions.

This can lead to:

Complex fares and a wide range of ticket types
Limited coordination between routes and other transport
Inconsistent standards across the network
Limited influence for local communities

Public funding currently supports a significant part of the network, but there is limited public control over how services are planned and delivered.

What's being proposed

We are consulting on a Bus Franchising Scheme.

Under franchising, the North East MSA would:

Set routes, timetables and fares
Decide service standards
Contract bus operators to run services on its behalf

Bus companies would still run services, but under contract and to agreed standards.

What this could mean for you

The Assessment of the proposed scheme suggests it could lead to:

🎫 Simpler tickets and better value for money

🚌 More consistent routes and timetables, with better connections

🦺 Increased and more consistent safety measures

📍 One place to find journey information

✨ A clear, recognisable network identity

💬 Greater opportunity for local people to have a say

👋 More public control over how services are planned and delivered

It would also mean the North East MSA taking on greater financial responsibility for the network, which would need to be carefully managed.

We want to hear from you

We want to hear your views on the proposed Bus Franchising Scheme. Your feedback will help inform the final decision on how bus services are run in the North East.

Our survey is open for responses now, until 28 September 2026. Access it below.

Have your say now

Key documents

To help you respond to the consultation we have provided the following key documents:

Bus Franchising Detailed Questionnaire: designed to facilitate more detailed feedback on the proposed franchising scheme, recommended for statutory consultees.
North East Bus Franchising Consultation Summary Document: a short summary of the full consultation document.
North East Bus Franchising Consultation Full Document: this 114 page document provides a detailed summary of the Franchising Scheme Assessment and supporting documents.

Franchising Scheme Assessment and Supporting Documents:

Other ways to get involved

Alternative formats

To request a paper survey or to access the information in another format such as an audio version, a large text version, or another language, please email us at haveyoursay@northeast-ca.gov.uk or call the team on 0191 277 4223.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Bus Reform project?

The Bus Reform project is focused on improving bus services in the North East over the long term.

We are consulting on a proposed Bus Franchising Scheme, which could change how bus services are planned and delivered across the region. The aim is to create a network that is more reliable, easier to use, and better connected to other forms of transport.

What is Bus Franchising?

A bus franchising scheme is a model where the public sector sets routes, timetables, fares and service standards.

Bus companies then compete for contracts to operate services on behalf of the public sector, rather than running services commercially.

This model is already used in places like London and Manchester.

What is the current system?

Bus services in the North East currently operate in a deregulated market through an Enhanced Partnership (EP) between local authorities and bus operators.

Under this model, operators are responsible for most services, fares and timetables, while the public sector works with operators to agree improvements.

Although this has brought investment and some improvements, it also has limitations, including a lack of full control over the network and challenges in coordinating services.

What is a Franchising Scheme Assessment (FSA)?

A Franchising Scheme Assessment is a detailed, evidence-based report that looks at whether introducing bus franchising could improve local bus services.

It includes analysis of how franchising would work, how it compares to the current system, the potential benefits, financial implications, and impacts on passengers and communities.

The FSA for the North East has been independently audited and is now published as part of the public consultation.

We have also published a consultation document which summarises the FSA.

Where are we in the process?

We are currently at the public consultation stage.

The Franchising Scheme Assessment has been completed and independently audited, and the Mayoral Strategic Authority (MSA) is now consulting on a proposed Bus Franchising Scheme.

We are asking residents, businesses and stakeholders for their views before any final decision is made.

What happens after the consultation has closed?

Following the consultation, all feedback will be carefully reviewed.

The mayor of the North East, Kim McGuiness, will then decide whether to introduce bus franchising in the North East.

This is a statutory consultation and no final decision has been made at this stage.

Why is this happening now?

The North East MSA has the legal powers to introduce bus franchising under the Devolution Deal.

While improvements have been delivered under the current system, challenges remain around reliability, network stability and integration.

This consultation is about understanding whether a different model could deliver better outcomes for passengers in the long term.

What areas does it cover?

The consultation covers the full North East MSA area:

County Durham
Gateshead
Newcastle
Northumberland
North Tyneside
South Tyneside
Sunderland

How can I take part?

You can take part in the consultation by completing the survey online at northeast-ca.gov.uk/haveyoursay.

You can also take part in other ways: You can call us on 0191 277 4223

Request a printed copy of the survey, which we’ll post to you with a free return envelope
Complete the survey over the phone with a member of our team

Alternatively, there will be opportunities to take part in person at events across the region.