Merseyside reclaims bus services after four decades of privatisation
Steve Rotheram, mayor of the Liverpool city region, writes about the return of buses to public control after four decades of privatisation, beginning in St Helens before extending across Merseyside. Under the new franchising system, private companies will still operate the buses, but the combined authority will now set routes, fares and service standards, and hold operators accountable, marking what Rotheram calls the biggest change to regional public transport in generations.
Rotheram highlights immediate benefits, including a new express service linking St Helens directly to Liverpool John Lennon Airport, alongside promises of more frequent evening and weekend buses and simpler fares, with the £2 single fare cap maintained for a fourth year. He links this to wider public ownership plans, including a £500m fleet of new trains, a 2028 target for bringing Merseyrail into public hands, and the imminent launch of a new Mersey ferry, the Royal Daffodil, framing the moves as part of a broader Labour-backed shift away from deregulation towards locally accountable transport.
- Liverpool city region buses return to public control after 40 years of privatisation.
- Authority now sets routes, fares and standards; £2 fare cap kept.
- Part of wider plan including new trains, Merseyrail public ownership by 2028, and a new ferry.
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Originally published by The Guardian as “Here in Liverpool, buses are back under public control – and that’s great for the only people who really matter | Steve Rotheram”.