Bus Reform Pilot

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Cumbria has been selected by the Department for Transport as a Bus Reform Pilot Study area. This gives Cumberland Council and Westmorland and Furness Council the opportunity to explore potential new ways of planning, funding and delivering bus services together.

The purpose of the pilot is to assess whether bus reform could help improve public transport outcomes across Cumbria, recognising the challenges of delivering reliable and accessible services in a predominantly rural county. The study considers how the bus network can better support key council outcomes and priorities. The following draft desired outcomes for bus reform in Cumbria have been developed as part of this study, aligning with existing council outcomes:

  • Towards a Cumbrian bus network that provides reliable, affordable and attractive connections to jobs, education, services and amenities.
  • Towards a Cumbrian bus network that supports sustainable, resilient, diversified economic activity and development, supporting economic and social regeneration.
  • Towards a Cumbrian bus network that meets the needs of diverse groups of people.
  • Towards improved integration of the Cumbrian bus network with other public transport and with active modes.

More information can be found on the Cumberland Council website.

Figure 1: Map showing high level extents of the commercial and supported bus network in Cumbria.

NB1: ‘Supported’ route lines may only be subsidised at certain times of the day or week.

NB2: “Not supported by Cumbrian Councils” could mean they are commercially operated, or supported by neighbouring/cross-boundary authorities

Cumbria has been selected by the Department for Transport as a Bus Reform Pilot Study area. This gives Cumberland Council and Westmorland and Furness Council the opportunity to explore potential new ways of planning, funding and delivering bus services together.

The purpose of the pilot is to assess whether bus reform could help improve public transport outcomes across Cumbria, recognising the challenges of delivering reliable and accessible services in a predominantly rural county. The study considers how the bus network can better support key council outcomes and priorities. The following draft desired outcomes for bus reform in Cumbria have been developed as part of this study, aligning with existing council outcomes:

  • Towards a Cumbrian bus network that provides reliable, affordable and attractive connections to jobs, education, services and amenities.
  • Towards a Cumbrian bus network that supports sustainable, resilient, diversified economic activity and development, supporting economic and social regeneration.
  • Towards a Cumbrian bus network that meets the needs of diverse groups of people.
  • Towards improved integration of the Cumbrian bus network with other public transport and with active modes.

More information can be found on the Cumberland Council website.

Figure 1: Map showing high level extents of the commercial and supported bus network in Cumbria.

NB1: ‘Supported’ route lines may only be subsidised at certain times of the day or week.

NB2: “Not supported by Cumbrian Councils” could mean they are commercially operated, or supported by neighbouring/cross-boundary authorities

  • Take Survey
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Page published: 05 Oct 2026, 12:00 AM