YEARS of neglect which resulted in passengers enduring unreliable and infrequent bus services will finally be put right according to a Barnsley MP who has backed a landmark move.

Stephanie Peacock, who represents Barnsley South, praised the Labour government’s transformative plans to deliver better buses ahead of the forthcoming Buses Bill.

Soon to be introduced to Parliament, it will expand the power to ‘franchise’ bus services - as seen successfully in Greater London and Greater Manchester - to all local authorities including the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA).

It’s had its all-important third reading, which gave ministers a chance to ‘tidy up’ its terms but no amendments were made.

The bill - which promises to revolutionise the bus network in what is the largest overhaul to local transport powers in 40 years - will now pass to the House of Commons.

Stephanie said: “I am delighted that this Labour government understands the importance of ending the postcode lottery of Britain’s broken buses.

“This new government has a plan to deliver better buses across the country.

“People across Barnsley South are tired of unreliable, overcrowded and infrequent bus services holding them back from opportunity after a decade of neglect under the Tories.

“The plans are set to grant SYMCA greater control over the routes, fares and service levels of bus services, with private operators bidding for contracts to take on franchises.”

The package of measures would also reverse the ban on publicly-owned bus companies, prohibited in law since 2017, giving local authorities more flexibility on how to approach fixing local services.

Totalling £955m across England, the funding allocated represents a ‘record level’ of recent investment for bus improvements for the majority of areas, alongside a once-in-a-generation reform to deliver better bus services to every corner of the country.

Publicly-controlled buses will start to roll out in South Yorkshire from September 2027, it was confirmed to the Chronicle.

South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard said: “We’ve made history, turning back the tide on the failed experiment of the privatisation of our bus network that was started in the 1980s.

“When I was elected in 2022 I promised to take back control of our buses and ’m proud to say that is a promise being kept.

“Starting in 2027, we will begin to take back control of routes, fares and timetables across South Yorkshire, so we decide where buses run, when and where.”

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the bill will overhaul what passengers have become accustomed to.

“The new powers will mean local transport authorities will be able to emulate the success of places like Manchester where public control has massively improved reliability and patronage.

“Manchester’s network has seen passenger numbers grow and service reliability improve since public control began a year ago.

“It is high time we recognise that local leaders need to be able to make decisions about their buses.

“The introduction of the bill marks the next step on our journey to overhaul how bus services operate, delivering on our commitment to improve living standards across the country.

“This is on top of over £1bn to help improve bus service reliability and frequency - better connecting communities across the country to job opportunities and public services.”