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Greater Manchester Bus Services Back in the Hands of the People

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Greater Manchester has taken a bold step in public transport, completing the historic re-regulation of its bus network. This milestone, the first in England in 40 years, represents a seismic shift in how the city-region connects its communities, promotes sustainability and drives economic growth. The transformation is part of the Bee Network, an ambitious vision for a fully integrated, “London-style” public transport system by 2025.
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RATP Dev to Sell London Bus Operations to FirstGroup

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RATP Dev has announced the sale of its London bus operations to FirstGroup plc, including London United, London Sovereign and London Transit. The move allows RATP Dev to focus on global rail projects while handing the reins to FirstGroup, a leader in UK public transport, to drive the next chapter for London’s buses.

Red double-decker bus on a city street, labeled 94 and Piccadilly Circus. An advertisement featuring a smiling person is displayed on the side. Modern buildings and a cyclist in the background.
Tom Harrison (Bus Ambassador)

Since 2011, RATP Dev Transit London (RDTL) has been a major player in the capital’s bus network. They run 89 routes across west and central London, with nearly 1,000 buses, 10 garages and 3,700 staff. That’s 180 million passenger trips a year.

They’ve regularly topped Transport for London’s league tables for punctuality and reliability, proving they know how to keep London moving. On top of that, they’re smashing it with green buses—over a third of their fleet is electric, and they’re set to go fully electric well before the Mayor’s 2034 zero-emissions deadline.

Now, FirstGroup is stepping in. A proper heavyweight in public transport, they already run one of the UK’s largest bus networks with nearly 5,000 buses and over a million passengers travelling with them daily. They’re also big on cutting emissions, so they’ll fit right in with London’s clean air goals. This move follows October’s announcement that First Bus acquired the London-based Anderson Travel.

RATP Dev, meanwhile, is shifting its focus to rail projects like driverless metros and high-capacity commuter trains. Mehdi Sinaceur, Deputy CEO of RATP Dev, explained the move:
“This strategic decision will position RDTL for continued success, development and capital expenditure under new ownership, while allowing RATP Dev to focus its resources on its key markets and urban rail strategy, which is a core expertise of the Group. We are currently involved in six large-scale mobilisation, opening or extension projects for driverless metro and urban rail across the world, as well as eight major bids.
We are confident that FirstGroup plc, with their wide-ranging expertise and commitment to driving modal shift and leading in social and environmental sustainability, is the ideal partner to support RDTL’s continued success and contribute to sustainable transportation in London.”
For now, it’s business as usual while the deal goes through the usual approvals. Once it’s finalised, FirstGroup will take over, keeping the wheels turning for passengers.

In short: RATP Dev is focusing on rail, FirstGroup is stepping up for the buses and Londoners can expect more reliable, greener services.

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