THE UK’s Local Transport Minister has paid a visit to Jersey to see how the Island’s buses run.
MP Simon Lightwood met Infrastructure Minister Andy Jehan, St Helier Constable Simon Crowcroft and LibertyBus staff at Liberation Station to understand how the Island’s franchise bus model works and serves the community.
Mr Lightwood said that if Britain replicated a rural bus network like Jersey’s, it would “put passengers first”.
He added: “Here in beautiful Jersey, I’ve seen first-hand how well a franchised bus system can work when it puts passengers first.
“LibertyBus shows what’s possible when local leaders are empowered to take control, boosting ridership and delivering more frequent, reliable services.”
During his visit, the MP also toured the LibertyBus depot at La Collette and spoke with passengers travelling on the Number 15 route.
The visit comes amid Labour plans for the Bus Services Bill which the government said would make it easier for English councils to follow Jersey’s example to franchise bus services in rural areas, which they argue would improve performance, accessibility and the quality of services for passengers.
The proposed legislation also includes protections to prevent vital bus services from being cut without proper local review in England.
Since taking over operations in 2013, LibertyBus has introduced five new routes across Jersey, with annual passenger journeys growing from 3.2 million to 5.3 million in twelve years.
The company recently signed a new ten-year contract with Jersey’s government to continue as the Island’s sole bus operator.
Mr Jehan called Mr Lightwood’s visit a “fantastic opportunity to showcase the benefits that long-term contracts have, Jersey’s investment in a more environmentally friendly fleet, as well as our efforts to enhance local community services such as the TownLink and a new northern route”.
LibertyBus director Kevin Hart said Jersey’s franchise model “allows us to focus on growing ridership and reinvesting profits into expanding services, including socially necessary routes”.
Mr Hart added: “With the government providing infrastructure and us delivering the expertise, the profit-sharing model ensures success is reinvested into the system.”
