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Residents across the North East will benefit from more reliable, punctual and cheaper bus services thanks to more than 拢45 million of new government funding to improve local transport connections, make travel more affordable and grow the economy.

The Department for Transport has today (30 June 2023) confirmed that Transport North East, on behalf of the North East Joint Transport Committee, will receive 拢45.6 million for the region鈥檚 bus service improvement plan (BSIP) to improve local bus services, speed up bus journey times and deliver lower fares to help passengers save money on travel.

The move follows the initial government investment of 拢117.8 million, bringing total funding to improve bus services in the North East to 拢163.5 million since 2022.

It comes shortly after Transport North East launched a new 拢1 bus fare for all under 22s and the North East Joint Transport Committee agreed to provide free travel passes for 18- to 25-year-old care-experienced people thanks to government funding.

With better transport connections crucial to growing the economy, improvements to local bus services will help local residents save money and travel to work, go shopping, access medical appointments and see loved ones more easily.

Roads Minister Richard Holden said:

Tens of thousands of people across Tyne and Wear, Northumberland and County Durham rely on the bus to get around every day. That鈥檚 why we鈥檙e confirming over 拢45 million to improve local bus services and help build the modern, reliable and affordable bus network all residents in the North East deserve.

We鈥檝e now invested more than 拢3.5 billion since 2020 to protect bus routes in England outside London and help people 鈥楪et Around for 拢2鈥�, as we leave no stone unturned to level up transport, help people save money on travel and grow the economy.

The funding follows a recent investment of 拢200 million to help people save money on travel by extending the 拢2 bus fare cap until 31 October, which will continue at 拢2.50 for another year until November 2024.

A further 拢300 million is also being provided to bus operators and local authorities, including in the North East, to protect crucial bus routes into 2025 and provide long-term stability to the bus industry.

This builds on over 3 years鈥� worth of government support totalling over 拢2 billion to help the sector recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and聽more than 拢1 billion to support local authorities deliver their long-term local plans to improve services. This takes total government investment to support and improve bus services to 拢3.5 billion since 2020.

Councillor Martin Gannon, Chair of the North East Joint Transport Committee, said:

I鈥榤 pleased to welcome this funding, which brings our region鈥檚 total bus service improvement plan award to 拢163.5 million. Our region came together and created a truly ambitious BSIP, so I鈥檓 delighted that our determination to improve the transport network for passengers has been recognised.

This funding will help us to bring forward a range of initiatives that make bus travel much more affordable and easier to use for all, as well as allow us to support the bus industry through some very difficult times in the wake of the recent pandemic.