拢130 million to protect bus services across the country
Funding will ensure that vital bus services can continue to run.
- up to 拢130 million of government funding announced to support vital bus services across England
- measure to protect bus routes which people rely on at a time of rising costs
- funding takes total to 拢2 billion government support for buses throughout the pandemic
Buses across England will benefit from up to 拢130 million of government support, ensuring services keep running and millions of passengers can continue using affordable transport.
The funding package announced today (19 August 2022) will cover 6 months from October 2022 to March 2023, and builds on almost 2 years鈥� worth of unprecedented government support to keep bus networks running. Today鈥檚 funding means almost 拢2 billion has been made available to over 160 bus operators during the pandemic.
The additional funding will help to protect bus services and routes, which are particularly important to people facing pressures due to the rising cost of living. The government is using every tool at its disposal to help people, from ensuring they can access affordable travel, to providing 拢37 billion of support for the most vulnerable households.
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鈥檝e provided to the sector throughout the pandemic to almost 拢2 billion.
At a time when people are worried about rising costs, it鈥檚 more important than ever we save these bus routes for the millions who rely on them for work, school and shopping.
The government is also investing 拢3 billion in bus services by 2025, including over 拢1 billion to improve fares, services and infrastructure, and a further 拢525 million for zero emission buses.
Graham Vidler, Chief Executive of the Confederation of Passenger Transport, said:
We welcome the government鈥檚 announcement of recovery funding to support bus services in local communities for a further 6 months.
Today鈥檚 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鈥檚 buses, ensuring they are provided the best possible services.
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