The Department for Transport has announced a funding package to ensure that over 160 bus operators are able to keep services running and provide affordable transport to millions of passengers.
The funding will run for six months, beginning in October 2022, and ending in March 2023, and is supported by almost two years’ worth of government support for bus networks. With this £130 million boost, the total of support from the government during the pandemic has come to almost £2 billion.
Grant Shapps, Transport Secretary, 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.”
as the cost-of-living crisis looks to only get worse for people, it is important that affordable transport is still available. The government has said that it is using every tool that it can to help people. This includes protecting their access to affordable transport and providing £37 billion in support for vulnerable households.
As well as the funding that will go towards protecting bus routes around the country, the government is also planning further investment in the industry. £3 billion worth of investment is to be put into bus services by 2025, including over £1 billion being focused on improving fares, services, and infrastructure. £525 million of this funding will also be dedicated for zero emissions buses, an important part of the government, and local authorities, achieving their net zero goals.
