Bus franchising in Hertfordshire

We're exploring opportunities to shape a more reliable, accessible and joined-up bus network for the future.

The future of bus travel in Hertfordshire could look different. We want residents and stakeholders to help shape it – what matters most to you when travelling by bus?

We've received £1 million from the Department for Transport to carry out the assessment. The areas where we would like to trial franchising are:

• East Hertfordshire
• North Hertfordshire
• Stevenage.

You can have your say now as part of our initial engagement and a full public consultation will take place in 2027. We'll update this page as our plans develop. 

Background

Bus services currently operate through the Intalink Enhanced Partnership. This brings us together with bus and rail operators and district and borough councils to improve services.

Bus operators currently make many decisions about routes, fares and service levels based on their own business priorities. We financially support around 40% of bus services in Hertfordshire, including services that may not otherwise be commercially viable.

What bus franchising would change

Bus franchising would give us greater control over the bus network. We would plan the network and set standards, while independent bus companies would compete for contracts to run the services.

We'd plan and manage:

• bus routes and timetables
• how often buses run
• fares and ticketing
• vehicle standards
• accessibility
• passenger information and branding
• service performance.

This could help us create a more reliable and joined-up network based on the needs of local communities rather than individual operators' commercial priorities.

Bus franchising is not public ownership. Bus companies would remain independent businesses and would operate services under contract.

What franchising could mean for bus services

Franchising could give us more flexibility to plan services around the needs of passengers and local communities.

This could help us:

• improve reliability and accessibility
• improve connections between services
• plan services for areas that currently have limited bus services
• coordinate buses with other transport services, including HertsLynx
• make fares and ticketing simpler
• set consistent standards for buses and passenger information
• support lower-emission transport.

Decisions about individual routes, including evening, weekend and rural services, would depend on local needs, available funding and public feedback.

We'd carefully assess any proposed changes to routes and engage with local communities where appropriate.

Who would run the bus network

We would plan and oversee the franchised network.

Independent bus companies would compete for contracts and would be responsible for running services to the standards we set.

We'd monitor their performance and set processes for passengers to provide feedback or make complaints.

This would also allow us to plan how public funding is used across the network and focus resources where they provide the greatest benefit to communities.

Fares and tickets

We haven't made any decisions about future fare levels.

Under franchising, we'd set fares within the franchised areas. This would give us the opportunity to make fares and tickets simpler and more consistent. It could also make it easier to introduce tickets that work across different bus operators and transport services.

Any future ticketing arrangements would consider accessibility and affordability.

What happens next

No decision to introduce bus franchising has been made.

We expect to hold a full public consultation in summer 2027. Residents, businesses, community groups and other organisations will be able to help shape the proposals.

Subject to the outcome of the consultation and the necessary approvals, implementation could potentially begin from 2028.

Have your say

We want to know what matters most to you when travelling by bus.

Your feedback will help us understand what passengers and communities need from future bus services.