Franchising easier with trams

According to the West of England’s metro mayor, bringing buses back under public control would be easier if the authority had built a tram network.

Dan Norris, Mayor of WECA (West of England Combined Authority), said an operating tram network’s profits would help support a public bus system.

Mr Norris added he ‘greatly regretted’ that Bristol and South Gloucestershire did not start building trams in the 2000s.

Campaigners have been calling for bus franchising to resolve the region’s ailing public transport system.