We are working with operators to look at developing an Enhanced Bus Partnership and will be producing a Bus Service Improvement Plan.
Buses are the country’s favourite mode of public transport – used for twice as many journeys as trains, from thousands more stopping places across the country. They get teenagers to college. They drive pensioners to see their friends. They connect people to jobs they couldn’t otherwise take. They sustain town centres, they strengthen communities and they protect the environment. They are lifelines and they are liberators.
The National Bus Strategy sets out an ambitious vision to dramatically improve bus services in England outside London through greater local leadership, to reverse the recent shift in journeys away from public transport and encourage passengers back to bus.
To enable effective, joined up, delivery of improvements to the bus network across Torbay we need to have a partnership in place. The partnership was agreed on 31 March 2023.
Following the adoption of the Torbay Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) we have now created an Enhanced Partnership (EP) which will include a Plan (The Plan) and Scheme (The Scheme) to provide a robust framework in which to deliver the BSIP in accordance with requirements set out by the DfT and in line with the Transport Act 2000 and any subsequent amendments.
The delivery of proposals set out in the BSIP is subject to the required funding being made available by the DfT and other sources.
The Plan and The Scheme are below:
Minutes of the Torbay Bus Enhanced Partnership Board (EPB) meetings are provided below
We have developed a Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) for Torbay, taking into account the supporting evidence, other policy documents, latest national strategies and stakeholder input.
The cabinet report can be found here
We commissioned consultants WSP to assess the feasibility of procuring Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) services as a potential replacement for existing local bus services. The study,
which can be accessed via the link below, concludes that there is potential for DRT in Torbay in a limited number of areas and scenarios.
Following the DRT work, we commissioned WSP to also look at a needs assessment for Torbay.
This highlighted the areas with the most (and least) potential to use bus services, but also looked at alternative travel options such as taxi and DRT. The study also considered the impact of loss of services and how accessible key areas such as town centres and Torbay Hospital are. Some information in the report is commercially sensitive but a summary will be included here when available.
The UK aims to transition to a Net Zero economy by 2050. As part of this, bus fleets must decarbonise. Zero-emission alternatives must start replacing diesel/internal combustion vehicles. It is expected that this will largely be done by replacing them with electric vehicles. Hydrogen is also expected to play a role on some difficult to decarbonise routes. This will be more likely on rural and interurban services. These are routes where buses operate for extended periods. They don't have frequent stops for charging.
Battery electric is already a proven technology. In June 2024 there were more than 3,000 electric buses in service in the UK. Electric buses reduce emissions harmful to our climate and health. They also give passengers a better experience. Journeys are quieter, smoother and more comfortable.
This scheme recognises the financial challenges that local authorities and bus operators face. Implementing zero-emission buses (ZEBs) on the local bus services is not cheap.
The Department for Transport (DfT) has set aside grants. These are awarded through competitive bidding. These grants are to help with the cost of replacing traditional diesel buses.
Grants are awarded through the scheme and cover the equivalent of:
Local authorities and bus operators must work together to put in place these changes.
The ZEBRA scheme requires the local authority to be the lead party. Bus operators are however an essential partner as they:
This will all lead to significant changes in operational and engineering practices. This means extra training will be needed to learn new skills.
Find out more about the ZEBRA scheme.
With Stagecoach’s support, we submitted an Expression of Interest to the first round of ZEBRA funding awards. This closed in December 2021. Our bid was not successful. We used feedback from the DfT to look at different options and programming for delivery. We also instructed consultants WSP to carry out a feasibility study. This study examined how ready the infrastructure and bus network are for switching to zero-emission buses.
We wanted a greater understanding of the area’s readiness for zero-emission buses. We took into account:
WSP was appointed in October 2021 to undertake a feasibility study. The purpose was to:
The feasibility study supported the Torbay Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP). This sets the ambition for a 100% zero-emission bus fleet in Torbay by 2030.
The study showed that Torbay needs more than average double-deckers compared to other parts of Devon. This influences:
Critical success factors for ZEB deployment in Torbay were highlighted. These included depot locations and sizes. Space for depot expansion and the availability of energy supply. The operating range and capacity of the vehicles themselves are less of a barrier.
The study found that most of Torbay's bus network can use battery electric buses, but some routes will need schedule adjustments.
In autumn 2023, the DfT opened a second round of ZEBRA funding. We used what we had learnt from the unsuccessful Round 1 bid. We used the findings and recommendations of the WSP feasibility study. Together with Stagecoach we submitted an ambitious bid to replace the majority of buses in Torbay with a brand-new, zero-emission bus fleet.
In March 2024 the DfT announced that our bid had been successful.
We were awarded £7.1 million from the ZEBRA fund. Stagecoach contributed £18 million in funding. We contributed £245,000. This takes the total investment in Torbay’s bus fleet to over £25 million. This investment will see the introduction of 49 brand-new battery electric buses. There will be 34 double decks, 12 single decks and 3 midi-buses. Stagecoach will also carry out upgrades to their Regent Close bus depot in Torquay. This is to support the charging and maintenance of the new electric fleet. The investment will enable most Torbay’s bus network to transition to zero emission operation.
We expect the new fleet to start entering service in Torbay from late 2025.
Some services in Torbay are socially necessary but are not commercially viable. In April 2024 we commended contracts for some of these. In offering financial support for these services, we also needed improvements to be made to some vehicles. This included:
These services are:
17 – Brixham Town Service, Sunday journeys supported only
25 – Paignton Town Service
60 – Paignton/Preston Town Service
61 – Torquay/Livermead Town Service (3 days per week)
62 – Torquay Town Service
64 – Torquay Town Service
65 – Torquay Town Service (2 days per week)
108/109 – Paignton Town Service
Devon County Council supports some services in Torbay through separate arrangements.