- Work Hard
- 11th Sep 2026
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Here’s what could change under bus franchising for the North East
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Bus franchising in the North East could change how 317,500 people a day get to work, uni, appointments and nights out, and there’s still time to have your say before the consultation closes.
The North East Mayoral Strategic Authority is asking whether more than 500 bus routes should come back under public control, in what would be the biggest shake-up of the region’s transport since the 1980s.
We’ve already looked at why the bus shake-up matters and sat down with Mayor Kim McGuinness on what franchising means for passengers. This time, we’re breaking down what could actually change on your own journey, and why it’s worth filling in the survey and entering our competition while you still can.
WHAT FRANCHISING WOULD ACTUALLY CHANGE
Buses in the North East have been deregulated since the 1980s, meaning private operators decide routes, timetables and fares with limited say from local authorities. Under the proposed Bus Franchising Scheme, the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority would set routes, timetables, fares and standards instead, with bus companies bidding for contracts to run them rather than operating commercially.
It’s the model already used in London since the 1980s, introduced in Greater Manchester over the past three years, and on its way in West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Liverpool and the West Midlands.
FARES THAT DON’T KEEP CREEPING UP
There are currently around 370 different ticket types across North East bus operators, and public funding already makes up roughly 51% of operator income despite the public having limited control over the network. Under franchising, the Mayoral Strategic Authority would set fares directly, with a commitment that they won’t rise above inflation for 10 years from day one.
In practice, that could mean one simple fare structure instead of working out which ticket suits which operator.
A COMMUTE THAT ACTUALLY CONNECTS
Punctuality currently sits at 87% against a target of 95%, and 47% of North East bus users rely on the bus as their only way to travel. Franchising would bring bus, Metro, rail and ferry services together under one plan, the Angel Network, with a single website and app for journey information instead of several.
For anyone who’s stood on a platform watching a connection disappear, that’s the difference between a smooth journey and a wasted morning.
SAFER JOURNEYS, WHEREVER YOU LIVE
Safety for women and girls is a specific focus of the consultation, with a pledge for more consistent safety standards across the whole network rather than safety varying from operator to operator.
“Feeling safe should never be a postcode lottery.”
Mayor Kim McGuinness told High Life North.
Rural and coastal communities, where routes have been hit hardest by cuts, are named as a priority too, alongside a 10-year commitment to protect the size of the network
MORE SAY FOR LOCAL COMMUNITIES
Franchising is also billed as giving residents and local elected representatives a greater say in shaping future services and holding operators to account, rather than decisions sitting solely with private operators. Kim McGuinness has said it’s the people who use buses every day who know best what’s working and what isn’t, and that feedback from this consultation would help shape future services if franchising goes ahead.
THE RISK WORTH KNOWING ABOUT
Taking buses back under public control means the Mayoral Strategic Authority also takes on the financial risk, an estimated £230 million a year in operator costs, plus responsibility for fare income and subsidy. If passenger numbers fall or costs rise, any shortfall becomes a public one to manage.
The MSA’s own independently audited assessment concludes franchising is affordable, commercially viable and good value for money, but it’s your view the consultation is actually asking for.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
The consultation closes at 9am on Monday 28th September 2026, and a decision is expected from the Mayor and cabinet in early 2027. If it goes ahead, the first franchised buses could be running on North East roads from around 2029.
Nothing has been decided yet, so this is genuinely the moment your view counts, whether you catch the bus every day, occasionally, or not at all.
HAVE YOUR SAY AND WIN
Filling in the survey takes a few minutes, and you don’t need to have read the full 114-page consultation document first. Once you’ve completed it, you can enter our competition for the chance to win one of three prizes, a luxury stay at TipToe Retreat, a city cruise with Tyne Cruises, or a three-course lunch with fizz at Blackfriars.
Entry’s for taking part, whatever your view on franchising, so there’s nothing to lose and a genuine say in how the North East gets around for years to come.
Rachael Ellis
Head of Content
After gaining a first in her BA Media and Journalism degree at Northumbria University, Rachael worked at Newcastle’s leading regional newspaper with her stories being picked up in national and global newspapers. She spent two very successful years giving a voice to those communities across the North East who otherwise…
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