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‘Bus revolution’ measures unveiled to ‘save vital routes’ across the country | UK News

A “bus revolution” will save vital routes and put passengers first, the government has said, as it unveiled new measures which include plans to further support franchising.

The legislation, which will be laid out before parliament on Monday, will give all local transport authorities new powers to run their own bus services.

Only metro mayors at the moment can control services in this way.

It will be presented in the form of a statutory instrument, meaning it does not need to be passed by parliament.

The government has also launched a consultation on simplified guidance hoping to speed up processes and reduce costs for local leaders looking to bring services into public control.

Known as bus franchising, this model involves local authorities granting private companies the right to operate in a specific area but keeping control over key aspects.

This could include routes, timetables and fares.

According to the Department for Transport, the annual total distance travelled by buses in England has fallen by nearly 300 million miles since 2010.

The department plans to present a Buses Bill later in this parliamentary session to further support franchising.

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Transport Secretary Louise Haigh hailed the measures as “the first stop on our journey to delivering better buses across the country”.

“After decades of failed deregulation, local leaders will finally have the powers to provide services that deliver for passengers,” she said.

“And we are taking steps to support local leaders to deliver improved bus services faster and cheaper than ever before.

“With local communities firmly back in the driving seat, our bus revolution will save vital routes up and down the country and put passengers first.”

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Helen Whately, the shadow transport secretary, said Labour’s plans are unfunded.

“They need to explain whether local authorities will raise council tax or make cuts to vital services like social care to fund this,” she said.

“Moreover, it won’t make a blind bit of difference for passengers. It won’t increase the number of services and they would much prefer to have the £2 fare cap extended at the budget.”

Wirral bus crash: Driver suffered ‘event’ at wheel before accident on M53 which killed him and schoolgirl, 15 | UK News

A driver suffered an “event” at the wheel before a school bus crash on the M53 in Wirral that killed him and 15-year-old Jessica Baker, Liverpool Coroner’s Court has heard.

Stephen Shrimpton, 40, was driving the bus – which had 54 people on board – to West Kirby Grammar School and Calday Grange Grammar School when it crashed last Friday.

The senior coroner for Liverpool and the Wirral, Andre Rebello, said CCTV footage from inside the coach showed Mr Shrimpton slump to his left while driving the coach.

At the same time, the coach left the carriageway and went up an embankment before falling on its side.

Jessica suffered “instantaneous” death from “catastrophic” injuries, though the exact circumstances of how she was killed depend on an ongoing police investigation.

Picture of 15-year-old Jessica Baker, who died in Liverpool bus crash
Image:
Picture of 15-year-old Jessica Baker, who died in Liverpool bus crash

While further medical results will be released, the most likely cause of Jessica’s death will remain a severe head injury, Mr Rebello said.

It appears Jessica was “partially ejected” from the vehicle, Mr Rebello added, with the coach landing on her, causing “certainly instantaneous fatal head injuries”.

Mr Rebello said it was “miraculous” nobody else died.

“At approximately 8.03am, the road traffic incident occurred and the coach, travelling northbound, collided with the embankment on the nearside and the coach came down on its side, causing fatal injury, life-changing injury and serious injury and lots of minor injuries,” he said.

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“Given the extent of the collision, it is miraculous that there were not more fatalities.

“The court has been briefed by the road collision unit investigation and the CCTV footage within the coach.

“It is fairly evident that the driver has suffered an event whereby he is seen to slump to his left side and it is at this time that the vehicle leaves the carriageway.”

Further medical examinations will be needed to establish Mr Shrimpton’s cause of death, Mr Rebello added, with focus on his heart’s condition.

‘Bags are everywhere’

A teenager who was on the coach told Sky News they were all just “chatting” on their phones when “all of a sudden, nothing seemed real”.

“I looked around and there’s just people lying down everywhere. Bags are everywhere,” the pupil added, speaking anonymously on Sunday.

“There’s glass everywhere. And it’s just like blood everywhere. I’ve seen both my mates on the floor, but I thought they were dead.

“I looked around again and saw a girl stood next to me. I was in shock, I put my hand on my face. I looked back at my hand and it was covered in blood, I remember saying, this can’t be my blood.”

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In an anonymous interview, a boy recalls how there was ‘blood everywhere’ in the aftermath of the crash

After the crash, four other children were taken to hospital, including a 14-year-old boy whose injuries are said to be “life-changing”, according to Merseyside Police.

Another 13 were treated for minor injuries before they were released.

The inquest was told Mr Shrimpton was pronounced dead at the scene at 8.50am and formally identified by his wife Tania Shrimpton.

Jessica was also pronounced dead at the roadside at 9.01am, and identified by her father, Shaun Baker, a nurse.

‘Clarity over seat-belts needed’

Mr Rebello said anyone over the age of 14 is responsible themselves by law for wearing a seat belt, but added clarity was needed over the rules on coaches and buses.

He said he intends to write to the Department for Transport for more information.

“I am old enough to remember the Tufty Club and the Green Cross Code and the public information films about, ‘Clunk Click every trip’,” he added.

“And clearly, because I am now considered very old, I suspect there are generations who have never seen these public information films and may not be fully aware that the chances of severe injury or fatal injury are so much reduced by wearing of a seat belt.”

A full inquest will be heard on 20 March next year.

M53 school bus crash: Survivor describes ‘shock’ and flashbacks after death of student Jessica Baker and driver Stephen Shrimpton | UK News

A teenager who was on the coach which overturned in a fatal crash on the M53 in Cheshire says he is “happy to be alive”.

Speaking to Sky News anonymously, he recalled how what started as a normal school day on Friday turned into a tragedy.

“We were all just chatting on our phones,” he said. “Then all of sudden, nothing seemed real. I stood up because I felt something really weird, then all of sudden getting thrown to the side. The bus had tipped.”

Jessica Baker, a 15-year-old pupil at West Kirby Grammar School and bus driver, Stephen Shrimpton, died after the vehicle overturned on the motorway on Friday morning.

Mr Shrimpton, 40, was “suffering medical issues” while at the wheel, his sister-in-law Emily wrote on a crowdfunding page.

Jessica Baker and Stephen Shrimpton
Image:
Jessica Baker and Stephen Shrimpton died in the crash

Police said 58 people were involved in the crash. Four children were taken to hospital, one of whom, a 14-year-old boy, is said to have sustained life-changing injuries.

Pupils from West Kirby Grammar School and Calday Grange Grammar School were onboard.

‘People lying down everywhere’

After the bus hit a central reservation, the teenager told Sky News he eventually managed to climb through the smashed front window, but says what he saw was distressing.

“I looked around and there’s just people lying down everywhere. Bags are everywhere,” the pupil said.

West Kirby all-girls grammar school.
Image:
Flowers left at West Kirby all-girls grammar school.


“There’s glass everywhere. And it’s just like blood everywhere. I’ve seen both my mates on the floor, but I thought they were dead.

“I looked around again and saw a girl stood next to me. I was in shock, I put my hand on my face. I looked back at my hand and it was covered in blood, I remember saying, this can’t be my blood.”

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Some of the students were eventually taken to nearby hospitals, while others were taken to an emergency services training centre in Wallasey, with 13 treated for minor injuries.

The pupil Sky News spoke to says he was certain no other students had died, so it came as a shock when he heard that Jessica had lost her life.

‘Just a horrible thing to think about’

The pair knew each other, and he described her as friendly.

“Obviously it could have been me in that position” he said. “She’s basically my age really, it’s just a horrible thing to think about.”

Emergency services at the scene of a coach crash on the M53 motorway, between junction 5 at Ellesmere Port and junction 4 at Bebbington. The coach was carrying schoolchildren to Calday Grange Grammar School and West Kirby Grammar School for Girls. Picture date: Friday September 29, 2023.

The teenager has been to A&E for his physical injuries but says the mental impact of what happened is causing flashbacks, including when in the car, and when there are sudden noises.

His overall feeling though, is that he is incredibly lucky.

“A couple of hours after it had happened, when I was sat upstairs. I’d realised it was crazy, I still don’t know how, like, I got up so quick and things like that and I don’t know how I wasn’t screaming, crying,” he added.

“I think I was subconsciously happy to be alive. Happy to be where I am now.”

Merseyside: School bus overturns ‘with a number of casualties’ after M53 motorway crash | UK News

There are “a number of casualties” and a major incident has been declared after a school bus overturned in a crash on a motorway in Merseyside, emergency services have said.

Calday Grange Grammar School confirmed one of its coaches was involved in the incident on the M53.

A statement posted by the school on X, formerly Twitter, said: “We are aware of a situation involving one of our school buses on the motorway earlier today.

“We’re actively gathering details and assisting affected students and their families.”

Merseyside Fire and Rescue said crews arrived at the scene at 8.16am “to find an overturned bus with a number of casualties”, according to local media.

The North West Ambulance Service said it had “declared a major incident” following the crash.

One female was taken to hospital after suffering major trauma-related injuries, it said, while nearly 50 others were being assessed at the scene.

“We are working closely with our incident partners to convey people away from the scene as quickly as possible,” the service said.

An air ambulance was at the scene.

The motorway has been closed in both directions between junction 5 at Ellesmere Port and junction 4 at Bebbington.

Merseyside Police said it was called just after 8am to reports a bus had struck a reservation at junction 5 of the motorway.

The force said: “Junctions 3-5 of the M53 are closed in both directions. Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service is currently ensuring the safe removal of passengers and the driver, and North West Ambulance Service are at the scene attending to anyone requiring treatment.

“Motorists are advised to avoid the area and find alternative routes, and we advise people to remain patient while the incident is ongoing.”

National Highways North West said: “The incident occurred shortly after 8am this morning.

“All emergency services are on scene along with North West Air Ambulance Services.

“National Highways Traffic Officers are on scene providing assistance with traffic management.”

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Bus services halved since 2011, Labour claims | Politics News

The number of bus services in the UK has halved since 2011, according to the Labour Party.

The figures, which are based on annual reports by traffic commissioners, show there were 8,781 bus services in the year to March 2023, compared to 17,394 in 2011.

Almost 2,000 routes were cut since the 2021/22 period alone, the data suggest.

However, the government branded the opposition‘s criticism as “misleading” – pointing out an investment since 2020 of £3.5bn into bus services.

The Department for Transport said factors such as operators merging and traffic commissioners not managing the registration of buses in some regions had played a part in the figures highlighted by the opposition.

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According to Labour, the West Midlands was the hardest region – having lost more than two-thirds of its routes.

Louise Haigh, Labour’s shadow transport secretary, said: “The staggering decline in local bus services under this government is nothing short of vandalism against our communities.

“Millions of people rely on these essential services, but they are being left without a voice as routes are cut back year after year.

“Labour’s plans will put passengers first by allowing communities to take back control over their bus services.”

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Louise Haigh
Image:
Louise Haigh says people are being left without services

In response, a DfT spokesperson said: “It’s misleading to equate these figures directly with changes in the number of bus routes, when the government has invested £3.5bn since 2020 to back our buses.

“Our recent £500mn boost is capping fares until the end of November 2024 and protecting routes into 2025, helping people save money on travel and improving transport connections to grow the economy.”

Transport Minister Richard Holden said: “This is just another cynical attempt by Labour to distract the British people from their appalling record on public transport.

“In Labour-run London, Sadiq Khan has increased bus fares by almost 6% and under the last Labour government bus fares rose more quickly than under the Conservatives, increasing costs for hardworking families.

“While Labour’s fare hikes are discouraging bus use, the Conservatives are backing bus users by capping fares at £2 on over 5,000 bus routes and delivering record investment into our bus sector, keeping prices down as we halve inflation and grow the economy.”

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Labour wants to devolve more powers to choose routes and reduce fares to local authorities – powers currently only wielded by metro mayors.

They also want to end the ban on publicly-owned bus companies being started.

The government announced an extra £300m for buses earlier this year – but this was £90m short of what the Confederation of Passenger Transport said was needed over the next 18 months.

Some £2bn was provided to the industry to help it recover from the pandemic.

Threat of Go-Ahead bus disruption as company manages ‘cyber security incident’ | Business News

There is the threat of disruption to rush hour bus services on London’s biggest operator after Go-Ahead was hit by a “cyber security incident”.

It is understood that bus and driver rosters were among areas targeted by the apparent hackers on Monday.

Any delays to services would be posted on the relevant Twitter account, a spokesman confirmed to Sky News.

Go-Ahead, which is also a major in Brighton and Newcastle, said the incident was ongoing.

Its statement said: “Go-Ahead announces that it is currently managing a cyber security incident after detecting unauthorised activity on its network on Monday 5 September 2022.

“Upon becoming aware of the incident, Go-Ahead immediately engaged external forensic specialists and has taken precautionary measures with its IT infrastructure whilst it continues to investigate the nature and extent of the incident and implement its incident response plans.

“Go-Ahead will continue to assess the potential impact of the incident but confirms that there is no impact on UK or International rail services which are operating normally.

“As a precaution, Go-Ahead has notified relevant regulators, including the Information Commissioner’s Office in the UK.”

Go-Ahead London is the capital’s biggest bus operator, operating over 2,400 buses.

TfL secures £1.2bn funding but mayor warns fare increases and bus service cuts still likely | Business News

Transport for London has secured around £1.2bn in funding from the government, but the city’s mayor has warned the agreement is “far from ideal”.

The funding package replaces TfL’s last bailout, which was the fourth since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020.

Andy Byford, Transport for London commissioner, said the agreement, which lasts until the end of March 2024, would bring benefits for the whole country.

“There is no UK recovery without a London recovery, and no London recovery without a properly funded transport network,” he said.

Mr Byford added that the funding would help avoid large-scale cuts to services and would mean the company would commit £3.6bn to capital investment over the period.

Among the projects to benefit will be new Piccadilly line trains, the repair of Hammersmith Bridge and the extension of the Northern line.

Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, said that the agreement brought “a number of key concessions from the government”, though he warned that it was “far from ideal”.

He said there would still be a £740m funding gap in TfL’s budget over the next 20 months, adding: “We will likely have to increase fares in the future and still proceed with some cuts to bus services.”

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‘Onerous strings attached’

Mr Khan said: “There are also onerous strings attached, such as the government’s condition requiring TfL to come up with options for reform of TfL’s pension scheme at pace, which could well lead to more industrial action and more disruption for commuters.

“These are things we have had no choice but to accept in order to get the deal over the line to avoid TfL becoming bankrupt, to save the jobs of thousands of transport workers and to keep trains, tubes and buses running across our city.”

He added: “The sole cause of TfL’s financial crisis was the impact of the pandemic so it’s simply wrong to punish Londoners and transport workers in this way.

“Levelling up the country should not be about levelling down London.”

‘Put politics to one side and get on with the job’

Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, said: “For over two years now we’ve time and again shown our unwavering commitment to London and the transport network it depends on, but we have to be fair to taxpayers across the entire country.

“This deal more than delivers for Londoners and even matches the mayor’s own pre-pandemic spending plans, but for this to work the mayor must follow through on his promises to get TfL back on a steady financial footing, stop relying on government bailouts and take responsibility for his actions.

“Now is the time to put politics to one side and get on with the job – Londoners depend on it.”