Buses across Greater Manchester could go back to being ORANGE after MPs voted on plans to allow a London-style network.

Bus travel could soon be cheaper, simpler and more reliable after a Westminster bill was moved to the next stage in Parliament.

Contactless payment, consistent fares, better routes and a single timetable could also be on the way.

The bill, which would transform bus travel in Greater Manchester by allowing local travel bosses to franchise services, has just a few hurdles to overcome in the House of Commons.

Branded the ‘linchpin’ of the devolution of power in our region, the Bus Services Bill would allow Greater Manchester’s new mayor to take charge of a new bus system, making it much more understandable and straightforward.

The new powers would be the most important wielded by the new mayor, with the most visible results.

Currently, our region’s bus system is deregulated. Around 80 per cent of services are provided by private bus companies.

Council bosses - and Transport for Greater Manchester - have no say over how they are run.

Some 22 operators run 440 services across the region, with 140 types of tickets available.

If the bill is passed, combined authority chiefs and our new mayor will be able to franchise bus services to operators, but maintain overall control, under the new rules.

It is hoped the move will lead to simple, consistent services.

Tickets could be standardised for use across routes, with extra charges for switching between operators scrapped.

Fares could also capped and simplified, routes redrawn with outlying areas better connected, and timetables improved.

Service quality could also be improved, with a single set of standards across all services.

The entire fleet of buses across Greater Manchester’s boroughs could become the same colour and branded consistently. Whether they’ll be orange as in years gone by, remains to be seen.

Blackley and Broughton MP Graham Stringer, who fought deregulation of buses as council leader three decades ago, said: “This bill will give control of the bus network and fares to local people and stop the gross exploitation of the travelling public by private bus companies.

“Deregulating buses 31-years-ago was a disaster, destroying bus routes and isolating individuals and communities. This is the opportunity to right this historic injustice.”

Leigh MP Andy Burnham, also Labour’s mayoral candidate, has vowed to use the powers to ‘radically overhaul’ the region’s bus system if he’s elected.

He said the new powers would help create a ‘faster, more reliable and affordable’ system, with the opportunity to link buses with trams and trains.

“For too long the buses have been run for the profit of the operator and not for the benefit of passengers,” he added.

“Deregulation has been an unmitigated disaster. We’re not going to put up with it any more.”

Cheadle MP Mary Robinson said the ‘revolutionary’ move would ‘reinvigorate’ bus services in our region.

Stalybridge and Hyde MP Jonathan Reynolds said: “And as a northerner, this is hard for me to say. But I am extremely envious of London’s bus network, which is frankly superb.

“It’s good value, reliable, frequent, there’s no cash involved, the tickets are integrated across all forms of public transport, the buses are modern, they are accessible and it’s easy to understand.

“By allowing our new mayor to have these powers, this bill is a huge step forward for our public transport system.”

Wythenshawe and Sale East MP Mike Kane said the move would be a ‘gamechanger’ for Greater Manchester.