Latest news with #WhiteRoseAgreement
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
'Why fixing our broken bus system is one of my top priorities'
Fixing our broken bus system is one of my top priorities says David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire LET'S not sugar coat it: our bus system isn't working – and it hasn't for a long time. Across York and North Yorkshire, people tell me the same thing: they want to use the bus, but it's too unreliable, too infrequent, or simply doesn't turn up. If you live in a rural village, a coastal town, or even some of our suburbs, chances are the bus is no longer a realistic option. In North Yorkshire, the number of miles driven by local buses has dropped by more than 50 per cent since 2010 – the worst fall anywhere in the North. This isn't just a transport issue. It's a quality-of-life issue. It affects how people get to work, to school, to hospital appointments – or how they see friends and family. It cuts people off from opportunity, and it hits the most isolated the hardest. That's why I've made buses a top priority as Mayor. They are the backbone of our public transport system – more flexible than trains, more affordable than cars, and absolutely essential for many of our residents. We're developing a new Local Transport Plan to tackle the decline and set out a better future – but we're also acting now. I've brought bus operators together to improve what passengers experience today: simpler ticketing, safer journeys, and better connections between our park and ride hubs in York. And now, we've taken an important step forward. The passage of the Bus Services Bill at its second reading in Parliament this week is fantastic news for our communities. This Bill moves regions like ours one step closer to the powers we've long needed – enabling us to take greater control of our bus services, plan them around local needs, and ensure they deliver for passengers, not just shareholders. It also removes the outdated ban on publicly owned bus companies, giving us more options to build a system that works. We're exploring all options for York and North Yorkshire. If a franchised network is right for our region, it would give us more control over routes, fares and timetables, and the power to create an affordable, integrated transport network that actually gets people where they need to be, when they need to be there. For example, allowing us to better connect bus and rail services for smoother connections. We would also be able to set consistent high standards, such as improved bus fleets – low or zero emission vehicles that offer passengers charging facilities, audio and visual announcements, and more space for wheelchairs and pushchairs. One area I'm especially focused on is cross-border travel. Roads don't stop at regional boundaries, and too many people are let down when services don't connect across council borders. That's bad for everyday life – and bad for our regional economy. That's why I signed the White Rose Agreement with the Mayors of West and South Yorkshire earlier this year. We're working together to connect services across borders – with shared timetables, common standards, and a joined-up approach that puts passengers first. Hull and East Yorkshire are also set to join us, because they face the same issues and want to be part of the solution. This is what proper public transport should look like – simple, joined-up, and focused on the people who use it. Whether you live in York or Yeadon, Wigginton or Wakefield, Selby or Sheffield, you should be able to get where you need to go without relying on a car – and without stress. Without public transport that works, we can't achieve any of our ambitions for the region: we'd be building homes that leave people stranded, creating jobs that people can't access, and excluding our children and young people – and anyone who doesn't drive – from education and training opportunities. Transport is responsible for nearly a third – 31 per cent – of harmful carbon emissions in York and North Yorkshire, and that's partly because unreliable and infrequent public transport leaves people with no option other than to drive. A bus system that works will offer a genuine alternative to using the car, helping to reduce carbon emissions and meaning we can all live in less polluted and healthier communities. Of course, buses aren't the whole picture. We need better rail connections, safe walking, wheeling and cycling routes, and well-maintained roads. I'm working on those too – but buses are the fastest, most direct way to reconnect our communities and get people moving again. The system has been broken for too long. Now we've got a chance to fix it and I intend to make sure we do.
Metro
16-05-2025
- Business
- Metro
£14,000,000,000,000 plan to fix the north of England's 'broken' rail network
The proposal comes ahead of the government's spending review next month (Picture: Shutterstock) A £14billion plan to transform Yorkshire's old railway system has been proposed by a former home secretary. Yorkshire's Plan for Rail, put forward by Lord Blunkett, calls for increased capacity at Leeds, Sheffield and York stations, a new through-station for Bradford and a mainline station at Rotherham. Other proposals include electrifying the line between Leeds and Sheffield and increasing the frequency of services for places such as Scarborough, the Esk Valley, Penistone Line and Wakefield district's Five Towns. But this all comes at a cost. The first phase of improvements would need £2.4billion of government investment from now until 2030. This is in addition to the £2.5billion needed for a tram network in West Yorkshire and extension into South Yorkshire. A map of Yorkshire's plan for rail (Picture: West Yorkshire Combined Authority) One plan is to increase the frequency of services between towns and cities in the north (Picture: PA) This plan comes ahead of the government's spending review next month. Chancellor Rachel Reeves will decide which infrastructure projects across the country will get funding. At a time when there are calls to improve the transport system in the north of England, Lord Blunkett's review could persuade ministers and civil servants. Lord Blunkett has said that this will be 'a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity' to improve connectivity and unlock economic growth in the region. If the investment goes ahead, it could add £20billion to the region's economy over the next decade and help generate 83,000 jobs and the building of 210,000 new homes. The review has been launched alongside West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin, South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard and York and North Yorkshire Mayor David Skaith in Leeds. Lord Blunkett said: 'Yorkshire has been punching under its weight for far too long, and with the White Rose Agreement, external and this infrastructure plan, the three Mayors are determined to reverse this historic trend. There are calls for better connections between the north and London (Picture: Danny Lawson/PA Wire) 'It's been a pleasure to be asked to pull together this credible and affordable plan, which presents a once in a lifetime opportunity to improve rail connectivity, and unlock economic growth and opportunities for all.' Ms Brabin said the rail network in Yorkshire is 'no longer fit for purpose' and investment is needed to help the younger generation. Mr Skaith said: 'In York and North Yorkshire, that means two trains an hour between York and Scarborough, upgraded stations at Malton, Seamer and Scarborough, and a new station at Haxby. 'We need to push forward with the transformation of York Station to maximise the benefits of York Central, one of the most significant regeneration sites in the country.' Mr Coppard said better connections to London, improved stations and more trains are needed. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page.
