The Lib Dem transport minister has hailed Greater Manchester's proposals to contract bus services whilst the Conservative transport secretary on the same day down-played franchising.
Lib Dem Baroness Kramer said that plans for franchising would "give passengers an even better deal than they've got now... a simpler fare structure... bus routes and timetables co-ordinated with trams and trains... and a single smart-ticketing system". She acknowledged "concerns" from operators but challenged them, if they disagreed, to offer ways "the plans can be improved".
The Conservative Patrick McLoughlin, meanwhile, did not mention franchising in a speech to the same audience, but instead emphasised that he agreed with operators that "commercial freedom allows [them] to re-invest profits in new, state-of-the-art vehicles" and that it was the operators who "know what works and what doesn't" in local markets.
He instead said that the plans to create an elected Mayor in Greater Manchester agreed between the predominantly Labour-controlled Greater Manchester authorities and the Chancellor would "help establish a more integrated and co-ordinated transport strategy". He added they would open up "an opportunity" for the industry to secure "major investment" through the devolution of funds.
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