Jersey’s dedicated bus operator, LibertyBus, is now responsible for the transportation of 47% of the island’s peak-time car users following 12 years of locally owned public transport services.
The operator, which took control of local services in 2013, has since introduced five new routes to the island, working with local Government to ensure passenger satisfaction and provide employment for a number of those living in the area.
Recently, Local Transport Minister, Simon Lightwood, visited the island in order to assess the initiatives success:Here in beautiful Jersey, I’ve seen firsthand how well a franchised bus system can work when it puts passengers first.
LibertyBus shows what’s possible when local leaders are empowered to take control—boosting ridership and delivering more frequent, reliable services.
That’s exactly what we aim to achieve across England through our upcoming Bus Services Bill, which will expand access to opportunities and help put more money in the pockets of hardworking people, in line with our Plan for Change.
The Bus Services Bill, which is currently passing through Parliament, aims to hand powers to local authorities across England, enabling each one to adopt franchise models much like that used in Jersey.
The bill also seeks to prevent the termination of local bus services without proper local reviews.
Kevin Hart, Director of LibertyBus, said:We’ve partnered with the Jersey Government for over 12 years, delivering a successful model where we take on the revenue risk while providing a core bus network.
This allows us to focus on growing ridership and reinvesting profits into expanding services, including socially necessary routes, and we’ve managed to grow annual passenger journeys from 3.2 million to 5.3 million since 2013.
With the Government providing infrastructure and us delivering the expertise, the profit-sharing model ensures success is reinvested into the system. We’re proud this approach is being recognised in the Bus Service Bill and enjoyed showing the Minister how it works.
Elsewhere, Manchester’s Bee Network has begun to set a new standard for city-controlled transport services with the recent launch of a contactless, tap and go payment system.
