The future of our local bus services are a key concern for many of my constituents and so I thought it might be helpful to give an update on the actions I have taken since a number of services were re-tendered in October 2022.

Number 11, Number 12 and Number 112 bus routes (Stephensons)

I have continued to engage with the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority which is responsible for commissioning bus services across the region, as well as Stephensons of Essex, the Number 11, Number 12 and Number 112 bus operator. In particular, I have pressed the following points:  

• Including Bottisham on the Number 11 bus route – Whilst I appreciate that the Number 12 bus does stop in Bottisham, I know that many constituents, particularly those living in villages on the route between Newmarket and Cambridge, would like the Number 11 bus to stop in Bottisham too.
• Better bus timetable alignment between the Number 112 and Number 12 buses – There is a clear need for better timetable alignment between the Number 112 bus (Ely to Newmarket) and Number 12 bus (Newmarket to Cambridge) to make it easier for passengers who need to change buses at Newmarket.
• A bus between Ely and Cambridge – The previous Number 12 bus, operated by Stagecoach, covered Ely to Cambridge. However, this has now been replaced by Stephensons’ Number 112 bus, which terminates at Newmarket. This means passengers who want to travel to Cambridge need to change at Newmarket to either the Stephensons’ Number 11 bus or, more likely, the Number 12 bus. I realise many of my constituents coming from Ely, Stuntney, Soham and Fordham and travelling to Cambridge would appreciate a single bus service. 

When I wrote to the Combined Authority Mayor in October on these issues, I was told this would not be possible because it would mean subsidised bus services competing with commercial services. I continued to make the case for these changes and I am pleased that in her recent letter to me, the Deputy Mayor, Anna Smith, has confirmed her support.

This means that the Combined Authority now agree that it should be possible to have a single bus service connecting Ely and Cambridge like we had before, and I understand that they have already raised this with Stephensons. The Combined Authority has also agreed to investigate with Stephensons the options for including Bottisham on the Number 11 bus route and I understand that a meeting has been arranged to start negotiations

I will continue to press the Combined Authority and Stephensons on these points and update constituents.

Funding for bus services post-March 2023

In the past few years the Government has invested billions of pounds in the UK bus network. This includes the £130 million 6-month extension to the Bus Recovery Grant and the £60 million bus fare cap which limits the cost of a single bus ticket on many bus routes in England to a maximum of £2 between 1 January and 31 March 2023.

Last October the Combined Authority was able to use £1.7 million from the UK Government to protect bus services across Cambridgeshire & Peterborough following Stagecoach’s decision to axe or significantly alter 23 bus routes across the region. 

However, in less than three months’ time the Bus Recovery Grant will come to an end and the Combined Authority needs to explain how it will maintain services beyond March 2023. Last month I wrote to the Combined Authority asking them to set out their plans. Unfortunately, even though they have known since October that this deadline is coming, I understand that the Combined Authority have still not decided how the relevant bus services will be funded after March. I also understand that this matter will not even be discussed by the Combined Authority Board until the end of January.

Having engaged with bus operators, I know that the lack of certainty is deterring them from making the improvements to local services such as better bus timetable alignment between the Number 112 and Number 12 services to make it easier for passengers changing buses at Newmarket.

The Combined Authority needs to make the preparation of a funding plan for post-March 2023 bus services a priority and give reassurance to passengers and operators that services will be safe beyond the next few months.

Stagecoach services

Stagecoach continue to operate many bus routes in South East Cambridgeshire and constituents have contacted me to share their concerns about the quality of services on some of these routes. I have written to Stagecoach to raise these problems with them as well as the Combined Authority.

I understand that some of the issues have been the result of one-off factors, whilst in other cases the Combined Authority has acknowledged that re-tendering has led to some problems.

Constituents have also contacted me about overcrowding on the Number 13 bus from Linton to Long Road Sixth Form College. This has meant passengers, many of them students with bus passes, have been unable to use the service and have been late for school. After I raised this issue with Stagecoach the operator confirmed the introduction of a new timetable to add more journeys in the morning and evening peaks to prevent further overcrowding. This new timetable took effect at the end of November 2022.

If you experience any issues with local services then please email me on [email protected].

I will continue to work with the Combined Authority and bus operators to ensure that my constituents have access to a high quality, reliable bus network.

Lucy Frazer MP
MP for South East Cambridgeshire