The United Kingdom’s Bus Services Bill has officially been made law following a ruling by the Government yesterday (27 October 2025).
The new bill aims to ensure the safety of vital bus routes across the country, with new legislation protecting services from being scrapped at short notice by tightening requirements.
Councils will now be empowered to identify key services deemed socially necessary, with strict requirements having to be met in order to call for their cancellation.
The bill will also lift the ban on local authorities establishing their own bus companies, as well as introduce plans to mandate staff to undertake training to both recognise and handle incidents of anti-social behaviour and crime.
Funding will be provided to back the establishment of local bus services, with numbers set to be agreed in the coming weeks.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said:For too long catching the bus has felt like an ordeal, with unreliable services and cuts to key routes meaning many communities, particularly those in rural areas, have been left isolated.
The passing of our vital Bus Services Act will finally change this. By making it easier for local leaders to take control of their buses we are putting passengers first, improving access to jobs, education and tourism opportunities which are all vital to growing the economy – a fundamental part of our Plan for Change.
In addition to allowing councils to establish their own services; the Bus Services Act will now allow local authorities to choose which companies operate in their areas whilst retaining control over a number of key aspects such as routes and fares, creating a bus franchise model wherever possible.
Paul Nowak, General Secretary, TUC said:This landmark Bus Bill is great news for the hundreds of thousands of workers across the country who rely on our bus networks to get to and from work each day. The government is turning the page on the failed era of bus privatisation - and returning to a system that puts ordinary people above profits and shareholder returns. We’ve already seen the real difference that effective franchising can make in places like Manchester.
It's now vital that local leaders work in partnership with the bus workforce to make the most of the opportunities offered by the Bill.
