Research sources and evidence

Follow the evidence.

Sources support specific claims and dimensions. Reputation alone does not establish the truth of a claim.

Research source AB05

Bus Franchising

Author / issuing institution: Greater Manchester Combined Authority
Publisher: GMCA
Original publication date: Not recorded
Type: policy_overview
Date accessed: 2026-10-17
Language: en
Factual summary: Discovery lead for the franchising decision, consultation and delivery record.
Reliability, relevance and limitations: Direct retrieval failed with HTTP 402. Recover the original 2021 decision, consultation findings, legal record, financial assessments and subsequent performance evidence.
Passage reference: Bus franchising overview
Archival reference: Not available
Original publication: https://www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/what-we-do/transport/bus-franchising/

Andy Burnham
Policy · AB05-C1: GMCA records Burnham’s decision to introduce bus franchising in March 2021, with the first services running in September 2023 and final rollout in January 2025. — Passage: The journey to franchised bus services