Government agrees £130 million support package to protect bus services

A £130 million support package has been agreed by government to protect local bus services in England as they continue to recover to pre-pandemic passenger numbers.

The funding to cover the six months from October 2022 to March 2023 brings the total pandemic support for bus travel over the last two years to £2 billion, and will help protect users from price rises and service cuts necessary to mitigate continued reduced passenger numbers.

In Greater Manchester the support has enabled TfGM to move forward with plans to cap fares as part of the transition to a franchising model for buses in the city-region. The move has also protected a number of services in Stockport that had faced cuts by operator Stagecoach due to low passenger numbers. At risk routes included the 42B from Cheadle Hulme to Manchester, the 313 service to Manchester Airport and 328 circular route connecting Cheadle, Adswood, Edgeley and the town centre.

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 £2 billion.

“At a time when people are worried about rising costs, it’s more important than ever we save these bus routes for the millions who rely on them for work, school and shopping.”

Graham Vidler, Chief Executive of the Confederation of Passenger Transport, said:

“We welcome the government’s announcement of recovery funding to support bus services in local communities for a further 6 months.

“Today’s [19th August] 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.”