Former Peterborough MP has described the situation as 'nothing short of a scandal

Bus operator Stagecoach East has responded to claims by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) that it withdrew from a tendering process.

Earlier this week, the CPCA claimed that a bus operator, which it said could not be named for legal reasons, had withdrawn all of its winning bids to run the final seven Tiger-branded precept-funded bus services in the region.

Stagecoach East revealed itself as the mystery operator and said it was ‘saddened’ by the claim it had withdrawn its bids for the new Tiger bus routes, which were originally due to start on the November 29 last year.

Stagecoach buses have responded to the combined authority

placeholder image — Stagecoach buses have responded to the combined authority

The routes are part of a package of 53 services funded through the mayoral precept.

The tendering process for the final routes now has to start over, meaning the services are now not expected to launch until May.

Combined authority mayor, Dr Nik Johnson, said: “I was very proud when this organisation stepped up to rescue the original 23 routes, and I am just as proud today to see the vast majority of mayoral-precept-funded services up and running, all serving parts of our region that an out-of-date deregulated market either couldn’t or wouldn’t.

“On these last seven routes, I know the delay is frustrating, but we’ve dealt with operator setbacks before and are working to get them going as soon as possible.”

Stagecoach East claimed it had not withdrawn from the tender process, and that the decision to re-tender the routes was taken by the CPCA.

The operator also claimed that inconsistencies in the award letter caused several delays in the conclusion of the contract, and it had concerns over the legality of operating a tendered service where a commercial one exists.

Darren Roe, managing director of Stagecoach East said: “We remain committed to working with CPCA to deliver more bus services in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough but need the time and clarity in the procurement process to do this.”

Former Conservative Peterborough MP Paul Bristow, and Conservative candidate for the role of Mayor of the Combined Authority when elections are held later this year, described the situation as “nothing short of a scandal”.

He said: “Local people have been paying the tax and the enormous increases in 2024, and will again in 2025, but not get the promised service.

“If the mayor can’t even manage this simple procurement process, how can we trust him to implement bus franchising across the whole of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough?”

Following the conclusion of the bus franchising consultation in November 2024, Dr Johnson is also expected to decide in February on how to reform buses across the area, although the date may be subject to change.