Bus services in County Durham have been described as an “absolute headache” for passengers due to ongoing cancellations and delays.
An MP hopes new measures to improve bus connectivity will enable people to get to work and school on time and improve dwindling public confidence in the bus network.
Labour says bus operators have slashed routes and “hollowed out” timetables.
Last week, the Government unveiled new measures to empower local leaders to take control of bus services. Transport Secretary Louise Haigh claimed the “bus revolution” will save vital routes nationwide.
But the Government has been told current services in County Durham aren’t good enough.
City of Durham MP Mary Kelly Foy said: “Bus services in the city of Durham are an absolute headache for my constituents. Buses are often 45 minutes late in villages such as West Rainton.
“The Labour mayor of the North East and I want to crack on and deliver our manifesto promise to bring buses back into public control.”
Speaking in the House of Commons, the Labour MP hopes the new measures will improve services.
Ms Foy added: “Can the Secretary of State assure me that the Better Buses Bill will allow us to enfranchise buses sooner rather than later, and will she meet the mayor and me to discuss the bus situation in Durham?”
The Government has also launched a consultation on new, simplified guidance speeding up processes and reducing costs for local leaders looking to bring services into public control.
It also plans to bring forward a Buses Bill to deliver changes to further support franchising, alongside other measures in areas such as funding and accessible travel.
Responding, Ms Haigh said: “The Better Buses Bill is designed exactly to help authorities such as the North East Combined Authority. I have met the mayor on several occasions to discuss how we can ensure that the franchising process is sped up so that we can deliver better bus services much more quickly.”
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Following the plea in Parliament, the City of Durham MP said: "No one should be late for school, missing medical appointments or unable to get to work due to inadequate bus services - an issue my constituents have been struggling with for far too long.
"We need to move away from the current public transport system that works in favour of the operators as quickly as we can and flip the focus to putting passengers first.”
Meanwhile, South Shields MP Emma Lewell-Buck urged the Government to prioritise local voices when making improvements to bus services.
The Labour MP said: “When the previous Government axed over 1,000 bus routes, local communities were completely ignored. As she rebuilds our bus network, can she assure me that the better buses Bill will make provision to fully include local voices, not just the voices of those in elected positions?”
Ms Haigh said the Bill will “give local people a proper say on the routes and services that they depend on”.
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