Bus Industry Insights – Analysis and Commentary on Bus Safety, Transport Policy and Governance

On 23 August 2025, I published open letters to the Mayors of Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, and Liverpool, calling for Bus Safety Performance Data to be published as part of new bus franchising systems. Now, with the West Midlands Combined Authority having confirmed its own franchising programme — due to begin in 2027 with full rollout by 2029 — I believe it is essential that the same questions are asked here. Below I publish in full my open letter to Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, urging WMCA to commit to publishing Bus Safety Performance Data as part of its franchising scheme. --- Open Letter Richard Parker Mayor of the West Midlands West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) Date: 31st August 2025 --- RE: Safety Transparency in the West Midlands Bus Franchising Programme Dear Mayor Parker, I welcome the West Midlands Combined Authority’s decision to proceed with bus franchising from 2027, moving the region toward a simpler, more accountable network. T...

On 23 August 2025, I published open letters to the Mayors of Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, and South Yorkshire, highlighting the urgent need for transparency in Bus Safety Performance Data as new franchising schemes are rolled out. Now, with the Liverpool City Region preparing to introduce franchising from 2026 and move to a fully franchised bus network by the end of 2027, I believe it is vital that the same questions are put to Mayor Steve Rotheram. Below I publish in full my open letter to Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, urging the Combined Authority to commit to publishing Bus Safety Performance Data as part of its franchising programme. --- Open Letter Steve Rotheram Mayor of the Liverpool City Region Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) No.1 Mann Island Liverpool L3 1BP E: info@liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk cc: LCRCA Transport Team; Tom Kearney (#LondonBusWatch) Date: 31st August 2025 --- RE: Safety Transparency in the Liverpool City Region Bu...

On 23 August 2025, I submitted FOI requests to Greater Manchester asking why promised bus safety data has still not been published. The lack of transparency around safety performance is deeply concerning. Now, with South Yorkshire preparing to launch bus franchising in September 2027, I believe it is crucial that lessons are learned from both Greater Manchester’s failings and Transport for London’s long-standing practice of publishing quarterly bus safety data. Below I publish in full my open letter to Oliver Coppard, Mayor of South Yorkshire, urging SYMCA to commit to publishing Bus Safety Performance Data as part of its franchised system. --- Open Letter Oliver Coppard Mayor of South Yorkshire South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) 11 Broad Street West Sheffield S1 2BQ E: mayor@southyorkshire-ca.gov.uk cc: SYMCA Transport Officers; Tom Kearney (#LondonBusWatch) Date: 31st August 2025 --- RE: Safety Transparency in the South Yorkshire Bus Franchising Programme Dear Mayor C...

On 23 August 2025, I submitted detailed Freedom of Information requests to Transport for Greater Manchester and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority to highlight their continuing failure to deliver on promises to publish bus safety performance data. Despite assurances given in December 2023, Greater Manchester has still not published this vital information. As West Yorkshire now moves forward with bus franchising, I believe it is crucial that these mistakes are not repeated. Below I publish in full my open letter to Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, asking whether the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) will commit to publishing Bus Safety Performance Data as part of its franchised system. --- Open Letter Tracy Brabin Mayor of West Yorkshire West Yorkshire Combined Authority Wellington House 40-50 Wellington Street Leeds LS1 2DE E: mayor@westyorks-ca.gov.uk cc: Dave Pearson, Director of Transport Services, WYCA; Gillian Graves, Head of Bus Reform, WYCA; Tom Kearney, #Lon...

On 23 August 2025, I submitted detailed Freedom of Information requests to both Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), demanding answers on what has been done to collect and publish Bee Network bus safety data. Today, TfGM has replied to confirm that my FOI requests are now being consolidated and will be handled under a single case reference: 845285. In their words: > “As your What Do They Know request covers the same information requested as under this case reference in addition to additional information not referenced below, we are hereby merging your requests and we will respond to all questions under case reference 845285.” This means that by law, TfGM must now provide a full response to my FOI request by 22 September 2025, and their response will be published publicly on WhatDoTheyKnow. You can follow the case live here: 👉 WhatDoTheyKnow – Case 845285 --- Why This Matters In December 2023, the Mayor’s office promised (Case...

On 5 December 2023 (Case 8060113), I received a written assurance from the Mayor of Greater Manchester’s office that Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) would begin publishing Bee Network bus accident and incident data within 12 months. That commitment was clear. It is now August 2025 — more than 20 months later — and no such data has been published. Today, I have formally submitted Freedom of Information requests to both Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA). These requests go further than simply asking for the data itself. They demand disclosure of: Data already collected but not yet published. Systems and processes used to capture and manage safety data. Governance records such as meeting minutes, reports, and risk assessments. Internal communications relating to the December 2023 commitment. Plans and timetables for publication. This means both TfGM and GMCA must now reveal what, if anything, has been done to deliver on the...

On 5 December 2023 (Case 8060113), I received a written assurance from the Mayor of Greater Manchester’s office that Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) would begin publishing Bee Network bus accident and incident data within up to 12 months. That commitment was clear. It is now August 2025 — 20 months later — and still no such data has been published. Last week, I wrote again to the Mayor, TfGM, and senior officials demanding answers. In response, I received two replies: TfGM FOI Ref 818815 – asking me to “clarify the types of incident” I want data on, despite the fact that my original FOI request of May 2019 (reproduced below) already listed this in detail. GMCA Case 13141048 – a generic acknowledgement treating my letter as if this is the first time I’ve raised the matter. This is not good enough. Below is the full text of my latest letter, sent on 23 August 2025, to Mayor Burnham, TfGM, and GMCA. --- My Letter – 23 August 2025 Dear Mayor Burnham, TfGM and GMCA, I am extremely c...

On 20th August 2025, I attended a key meeting at RMT Unity House with Assistant General Secretary Darren Ireland, Regional Organiser Gaz Jackson, and our NEC representatives. The focus was clear: defending the rights of Medilink drivers following the transfer of the contract from CT4N to Skills. 🚍 A Unionised History The Medilink service has always been unionised. First under UNISON when it was operated in-house by NUH. Then under RMT when the service was outsourced to CT4N in 2014. Now, with Skills taking over the contract, we are determined this long tradition of union representation will not be broken. ⚠️ The Challenge Skills have stated they do not currently recognise any trade unions. Worse still, they are seeking to impose new contracts on drivers, undermining terms and conditions protected under TUPE. This is unacceptable and sets a dangerous precedent for all public sector contracts. ✊ The RMT’s Response At our meeting, the union made it absolutely clear: We will not back down...

As someone with over 20 years in the bus industry, and who worked throughout every lockdown, I have witnessed first-hand the resilience of both workers and passengers. Today, it is encouraging to see bus patronage in Nottingham returning to near pre-Covid levels. Services provided by Nottingham City Transport and Trent Barton remain second to none. But while passenger numbers are recovering, more coordinated work is still needed between bus operators. Crucially, this must not exclude the trade unions. Not only Unite, but also the RMT — the dedicated transport union. The Role of the RMT Bus Branch Here in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, the RMT Bus Branch has built a reputation for punching above its weight. What sets us apart is not just our activity, but our dedication: No facility time. In most of our workplaces, the RMT is not formally recognised. That means our activists receive no facility time to carry out union duties. Activists working in their own time. Despite this, our branc...

I’m Lee Odams, a bus driver in Nottingham for 19 years and currently: RMT Branch Secretary – Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Bus Branch Secretary – RMT National Industrial Organising Conference of Bus Workers As a safety campaigner and front-line worker, I submitted evidence to the House of Commons Public Bill Committee on the Bus Services (No. 2) Bill. You can access both the Bill and my official submission below. --- 📄 Official Links 🔗 Read the full Bill: Bus Services (No. 2) Bill – UK Parliament 📑 Read my official evidence submission (13 June 2025): Lee Odams – Evidence Submission to Bus Services (No. 2) Bill --- 🧾 Why I Submitted Evidence This Bill gives local authorities the power to control and franchise bus services. That means it directly affects the working conditions and safety of bus drivers like me across the UK. In my evidence, I called for: 📢 Confidential safety reporting systems 📊 Transparent, local bus safety performance data ⏱️ Fair and safe driver working hours...

🚍 As a bus driver with nearly two decades of experience, I’ve spent too many summers in dangerously hot bus cabs, sometimes with no working air conditioning, poor airflow, and no way to cool down. When temperatures inside buses regularly climb above 39°C, this becomes more than just uncomfortable — it’s a risk to our health and public safety. Like many of my colleagues, I’ve experienced symptoms of heat exhaustion while still driving. This is dangerous not just for drivers, but for passengers and other road users. That’s why I’ve been campaigning for years — through union motions, conference debates, and now directly with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Last week I sent the letter below to the HSE asking them to include bus drivers in their review of workplace heat exposure and to introduce protections under health and safety legislation. --- 📩 My Letter to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) 14 August 2025 Dear Health and Safety Executive, I’m contacting you as a concerned ...

Dear Mayor Burnham, Re: Still No Publication of Bee Network Bus Safety Performance Data On 5 December 2023, I received a reply from your office (Case 8060113) assuring me that Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) intended to publish “all accident and incident data for Bee Network services” within up to 12 months. You stated that work was underway to develop consistent reporting and determine the best presentation format for this data. Today is 14 August 2025 — more than 20 months since that commitment — and there is still no published bus safety performance data on TfGM’s website. This is despite TfGM routinely publishing detailed bus performance data covering punctuality, reliability, and other operational metrics. The contrast is stark — the public can easily find statistics on whether a bus was on time, yet cannot access any official record of how many people have been injured or killed on the network, or the circumstances of serious incidents. News reports have documented numero...