Delayed: Operator withdraws all winning bids for new Combined Authority ‘Tiger’ services

Delayed: Operator withdraws all winning bids for new Combined Authority ‘Tiger’ services

Combined Authority restarts procurement for precept-funded routes 

In response to news that a bus operator – who cannot be named for legal reasons – has withdrawn all of its winning bids to run the final 7 precept-funded bus services, Mayor Dr Nik Johnson has moved quickly to reassure residents that their new routes would be up and running by the Spring.

Since 2022, when the first decision was made to step in and rescue almost two dozen services deemed unviable by their operators, the Combined Authority has successfully procured more than 40 mayoral precept-funded routes. As a result of the withdrawn bids, the tendering process for the remaining 7 routes – covering places including Peterborough, Cambridge, Ely, Huntingdon, Wisbech and surrounding villages – now has to start over, meaning the services are now not expected to launch until May.

Mayor Dr Nik Johnson said: “I was very proud when this organisation stepped up to rescue the original 23 routes, and I am just as proud today to see the vast majority of mayoral-precept-funded services up and running, all serving parts of our region that an out-of-date deregulated market either couldn’t or wouldn’t. On these last 7 routes, I know the delay is frustrating, but we’ve dealt with operator setbacks before and are working to get them going as soon as possible.”

The routes are part of a package of 53 services funded through the Mayoral precept. 38 routes across the region are already up and running, with a further 4 Tiger on Demand services – flexible, bookable buses serving rural areas – set to launch this weekend, covering Fenland, East Cambridgeshire, and two in South Cambridgeshire.

Other improvements include the introduction in 2024 of the Tiger card, offering £1 bus fares for under-25s, an all-day concessionary pass being introduced from April, and retaining a £2 cap on bus fares until the end of March.  Following the conclusion of the bus franchising consultation in November 2024, Mayor Dr Johnson is also expected decide early next month on how to reform buses across the area, although the date may be subject to change.

The routes affected by the withdrawal of bids are:

Tiger 1 – Huntingdon to Cambridge

Tiger 2/3 – Cambridge North and South connections

Tiger 4/5 Soham to Cambridge and Newmarket to Cambridge

Tiger 7 – Chatteris to Wisbech

Tiger 9 – Peterborough Orbital