Ministers have announced a further £130m to continue Covid recovery funding for buses for a further six months, following warnings of massive service cuts across the country.
The Department for Transport (DfT) said the new funding package announced on Friday (19 August) will cover October 2022 to March 2023 and builds on almost two years’ worth of government support to keep bus networks running.
Officials said the cash means almost £2bn has been made available to over 160 bus operators during the pandemic.
Transport secretary Grant Shapps said: ‘This funding will ensure millions across the country can continue to use vital bus services and brings the total we’ve provided to the sector throughout the pandemic to almost £2bn.’
Despite this £2bn subsidy having consumed most of the £3bn for improved services in the National Bus Strategy, the DfT claimed that the Government is ‘also’ investing £3bn in bus services by 2025, ‘including over £1 billion to improve fares, services and infrastructure, and a further £525 million for zero emission buses’.
Graham Vidler, chief executive of the Confederation of Passenger Transport, said: ‘We welcome the Gvernment’s announcement of recovery funding to support bus services in local communities for a further six months.
‘Today’s announcement will help bus operators and local authority partners to balance a network of reliable and affordable services in the short-term as bus networks adapt to new travel patterns.
‘For the longer term, we will continue to work closely with central government and local authorities to encourage existing and new passengers to get on board the country’s buses, ensuring they are provided the best possible services.’
West Yorkshire mayor Tracy Brabin claimed that she had ‘forced an extension of support’ and that ministers had conceded to demands from herself and other northern mayors.
She said: ‘We’ve been clear that government inaction would have decimated vital bus services and pushed people onto more expensive forms of transport, such as taxis, during the cost-of-living crisis - a time they can afford it least.
‘This shows how mayors can be powerful voices to advocate for their region – and I’m delighted that my colleagues across the North joined my push for action. We can be stronger together than the sum of our parts.’
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