BUS operators have criticised city-region transport bosses plans to reform transport across Greater Manchester.

Mayor Andy Burnham unveiled his vision for a London-style integrated system on Monday, named "Our Network".

It includes a potential move to use new devolved powers to re-regulate bus services for the first time in three decades.

But OneBus, a group representing the majority of operators across GM, said the mayor’s vision was "heavy on ambition and light on detail".

And Stagecoach – the city’s largest single bus company – said taxpayers were being "kept in the dark" about how much they would have to pay for a London-style franchising model.

Franchising, which would hand local leaders control to identify what services are required before inviting operators to bid for contracts, has been identified as a "preferred option" following an assessment by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM).

It will be subject to a vote by combined authority leaders on Friday and, if successful, an independent auditor would then be appointed.

To date no financial costings have been released but the mayor’s office said details will be available after the audit process, with a public consultation the next step.

Bus firms said proposals have been submitted for partnership working between them and the public authorities.

A Stagecoach spokesperson said: “The mayor has provided no evidence to support his claim that franchising is better than a partnership approach and he is keeping Greater Manchester’s taxpayers in the dark about the massive bill they would have to pay for a London-style bus system.

“The mayor has had on his desk for months a compelling £100m blueprint from bus operators which could further transform the region’s bus network right now.

“It would deliver better services, new greener buses, better value fares and a way forward to address car congestion and air quality, which everyone agrees are two of the biggest challenges facing the region.

“People in Manchester and districts across the region must be asking why TfGM has needlessly spent £23m of taxpayers money on consultants’ reports assessing franchising, when practical improvements have been delayed and the partnership solutions are already staring politicians in the face.”

If the plans move forward, the city-region would be the first in the country to take control of its bus network using the Bus Services Act 2017.

It would reflect the system used in London, the only area to keep a regulated network since 1986.

Deregulation of the bus market in GM has led to "no oversight of coordination between bus services and other modes of public transport", TfGM said on Monday.

However, the OneBus group says its partnership proposal ‘can deliver a better network at no extra cost to the public purse’.

Chief executive Gary Nolan said: “We urge the mayor to put passengers before politics and let the public know how long this process will take and what tax increases they will face to achieve his vision.

“We agree that Greater Manchester’s bus network can be improved and encourage the mayor to use his existing powers to cut congestion now, before it inflicts further damage on bus punctuality and air quality.”

Operators could take the move to judicial review if the combined authority moves forward with the franchising plan.

Town hall leaders from across the city-region will discuss the plans at Friday’s meeting of the combined authority in Rochdale.

Unveiled on Monday, Our Network includes the 16-18 free bus travel pass, expansions to the Metrolink network (including the Trafford Park link and proposed airport loop), several new tram-train routes and an ambition to establish GM Rail; a more locally controlled rail network.

Expanded park and ride facilities and a bike hire scheme are also part of the transport masterplan.