, Labour’s Shadow Transport
Secretary, responding to the latest bus statistics
which show an 85 million fall in the number of bus passenger
journeys, said:
“These figures underline the devastating impact of Tory cuts on
local bus services.
“People are being denied opportunities in work and education and
are cut off from friends and family, particularly those in rural
areas or from low income backgrounds.
“At the same time, cutting and withdrawing services is worsening
congestion, air pollution and our impact on climate change.
“A Labour Government will act in the interest of the many by
putting investment back into bus services, protecting pensioners’
bus passes and introducing a new free pass for under 25s.”
Ends
Notes to editors
- · The
number of local bus passenger journeys in England fell by 85
million or 1.9% to 4.36 billion in the year ending March
2018 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/774565/annual-bus-statistics-year-ending-mar-2018.pdf
- · In
2017/18, there were 75 journeys per head across Great Britain,
the lowest level on record (since 1991/92).
- · Bus
mileage in England decreased by 3.4% when compared with 2016/17.
The fall in mileage for supported non-commercial was 8.8%.
- · Buses
account for about 59% of public transport journeys
- · In the
past year to March 2018, local bus fares in England have
increased by 2.8%, faster CPI inflation (2.5% increase).
- · The
number of full-time staff employed by bus operators is 3% lower
than the 2017
- There has been a 45% reduction in funding for bus services
across England and Wales 2010-11 to 2017-18 source Campaign for
Better Transport, Buses in Crisis: A Report on Bus
Funding 2010-2018 https://bettertransport.org.uk/sites/default/files/research-files/Buses-in-Crisis-2018_0.pdf
- 2. Bus routes are projected to fall by over
5,000 by 2022
- At the current rate by the
end of the Parliament the Tory Government will have overseen a
reduction of over 5,000 bus routes.
|
Year
|
Cumulative cuts to bus routes
|
|
2010-2018
|
3347
|
|
extrapolated
|
|
|
2019
|
3765
|
|
2020
|
4183
|
|
2021
|
4601
|
|
2022
|
5019
|
- · Labour
will by extend bus franchising and support new municipal bus
companies across the whole of England. The money saved through
franchising and municipalisation will allow local authorities to
re-invest in the bus network and reverse cuts to bus services
made since 2010.
- · Local
authorities will be able to take back regulatory powers so that
they can set the fares, routes, and timetables that will put
their communities first, ahead of the interests of private
profit. Public control over buses will allow us to provide free
travel those 25 and younger.
