The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority has confirmed the withdrawal of two subsidised bus routes following a formal assessment process. The decision concerns the 13B route from Nosterfield End to Linton, and the 19A service between Cambridge and Landbeach. Both will be discontinued after being deemed financially unsustainable or redundant.
This move is part of a wider review undertaken by the Combined Authority, which spends £15.5 million annually on subsidising local bus journeys. The authority had previously agreed to adopt a formal framework to evaluate the viability of subsidised services, considering criteria such as cost per passenger and route duplication. The decision was voted through at a board meeting held on 28 January.
High Per-Passenger Cost Cited in Decision to Axe 13B Route
The 13B route was singled out primarily due to its disproportionately high cost, with the service reportedly costing £98.47 per passenger to operate. According to Cambridge News, the route only runs once per day in a single direction towards Linton and was marked as underperforming in the authority’s framework assessment.
Officials noted that another bus service operates along a similar route approximately one hour later, making the 13B less essential in terms of local connectivity. The Combined Authority’s report suggested that the route’s limited frequency and high operational cost made it difficult to justify continued funding.
At the board meeting, Councillor Chris Boden, leader of Fenland District Council, defended the decision, saying it followed an “objective framework” agreed upon last year to guide reviews of subsidised routes. He expressed frustration that some committee members had initially recommended against the cuts before further public consultation had taken place.
However, Councillor Lucy Nethsingha, leader of Cambridgeshire County Council, noted that additional community engagement had since occurred, allowing for a more informed final recommendation. Councillor Anna Smith of Cambridge City Council opposed the cuts, arguing that the final recommendation contradicted the initial stance taken by the Combined Authority’s transport committee.
19A Service Deemed Redundant Due to Overlapping Route
The 19A route, running between Cambridge and Landbeach, was also marked for withdrawal. The authority’s report stated that the service’s route had become redundant following the introduction of the 100 bus, a newer service funded by developer contributions. According to Cambridge News, the 100 service mirrors much of the same path, rendering the continued operation of the 19A inefficient.
Further proposed cuts to other services, such as the 117 and 129 routes between Ely, Upware, and Black Horse Drove, and the 65 route from St Neots to Buckden, will not proceed immediately. Instead, the Combined Authority agreed to undertake additional engagement with local residents and parish councils before making a final decision.
Councillor Sarah Conboy, leader of Huntingdonshire District Council, welcomed the continued dialogue, highlighting feedback from parish councils that expressed interest in collaborating with the authority to explore viable alternatives.
According to BBC News, when the decision was put to a vote, the majority of the Combined Authority board agreed to proceed with the withdrawal of the 13B and 19A services. Meanwhile, a more measured approach will be taken with the remaining routes under review, reflecting both operational concerns and the importance of community input.
