Q. Who provides my bus services?

Independent commercial companies run the bus services in Cambridgeshire. The largest number of routes are serviced by Stagecoach, one of the big five national operating groups. Smaller local operators service other routes.

The commercial bus operators are free to decide how they will run any services that do not require financial support. This covers the route, the stopping points, the timetables and the fares charged. The bus operators have to register the details of each service with the local Traffic Commissioner and Cambridgeshire County Council. However the Council cannot object to these commercial registrations.
 
Q. What is a contracted bus service?

Inevitably, commercial routes do not cover all the needs of bus users in Cambridgeshire. Particularly those lightly used routes which operate in rural areas, the evenings or at weekends. In these cases, Cambridgeshire County Council will often step in and invite operators to tender for a contracted service.

Contracted bus services are run by bus operators to service specifications set out by Cambridgeshire County Council. The Council pays the operator the difference between the operating cost and the income from fares on these services. Contracted services are only provided where no suitable commercial service exists. Currently Cambridgeshire County Council provides funding of £2.77m for the provision of contracted bus services.