York and North Yorkshire will be among the first in the country to pilot a rural bus franchising model, thanks to a share of the government’s £750 million annual funding announced in the latest Comprehensive Spending Review.

This pioneering initiative aims to transform public transport in areas that currently see as little as one bus per week. With more reliable and frequent services, the new model will help connect rural communities to vital opportunities in education, employment, and healthcare.

As part of the pilot, the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority will lead in-depth studies into how bus services operate across urban, rural, and coastal areas—setting the standard for other rural regions across the UK.

This is a major step forward in tackling rural isolation and ensuring everyone, no matter where they live, can access the services they need.

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