TfGM to receive further £18 million in post-pandemic support

The Transport Secretary has confirmed a further £18 million funding for transport services in Greater Manchester as bus and tram passenger numbers continue to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.

The funding for Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) follows more than £400 million in additional financial support for the city-region’s transport network since March 2020 to ensure continued operations after the pandemic. The city-region has also received additional government funding through other DfT schemes, including City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements, Levelling Up Funds and funding for active travel initiatives.

The funding is being provided on the condition that TfGM outlines a pathway to financial sustainability as committed to in the Trailblazer Devolution Deal, which strengthened the Mayor’s powers on transport in Greater Manchester. In the coming months, TfGM will take greater control over the city-region’s bus network alongside the trams, however, passenger numbers declined sharply during the Covid-19 pandemic and are yet to recover to pre-pandemic levels. Some local train services, including in Stockport, are also expected to come under greater city-region control.

While the latest funding aims to ensure the short-term stability and reliability of the transport network until the end of March 2024, under the city-region’s new devolution arrangement, Greater Manchester will have full control of how it spends its transport budget and revenue from services.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper said:

“Since the start of the pandemic, the government has repeatedly stepped up to support Greater Manchester and the Bee Network, providing over £400 million to protect and improve services.

“We’re determined to see a thriving local transport network in this great city and, while our support package must be fair to taxpayers, I am confident this additional extraordinary settlement will help operators to recover from the pandemic while Transport for Greater Manchester follows through on its promise to reach financial sustainability.”