Bus services across the country will be transformed with
simpler fares, thousands of new buses, improved routes and
higher frequencies, the PM will announce today.
In a statement to Parliament, the PM will announce £5
billion of new funding to overhaul bus and cycle links for
every region outside London.
He will set out a new vision to level up local transport
connections throughout the country, making every day
journeys easier, greener and more convenient.
The package of investment will boost bus services by
focusing on a range of priorities, set to include:
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Higher frequency services, including evenings and
weekends, to make it easier and less restrictive for
people to get around at any time of day
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More ‘turn up and go’ routes where, thanks to higher
frequency, people won’t have to rely on timetables to
plan journeys
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New priority schemes will make routes more efficient,
so that buses avoid congested routes and can speed
passengers through traffic
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More affordable, simpler fares
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At least 4,000 new Zero Emission Buses to make greener
travel the convenient option, driving forward the UK’s
progress on its net zero ambitions
Today’s new 5-year funding package builds on the
Government’s determination to make buses work better for
their passengers. The details of these programmes will be
announced in the upcoming National Bus Strategy, to be
published later this year at the Comprehensive Spending
Review, and follows the allocation of £170 million last
week to support more electric buses, increase rural
mobility and trial new ‘Superbus’ services.
Cycle routes will also see a major boost across the country
with over 250 miles of new, high-quality separated cycle
routes and safe junctions in towns and cities to be
constructed across England, as part of the multi billion
pound package announced today.
Dozens of new ‘Mini-Holland’ schemes will be taken forward
to transform town centres across the country to make them
safer to get around. These pilots of low-traffic
neighbourhoods, will see government working closely with
local councils to reduce lorry traffic, making side streets
safer to walk, cycle and play in while maintaining the
vehicle access people need to get around.
As a core part of the Government’s work to create a
long-term cycling programme and budget, all new routes will
be built to tough new design standards, ensuring more
people can cycle safely and making getting around by bike a
more convenient option.
Prime Minister said:
Local transport connections have a truly transformative
role to play in levelling up infrastructure across the
country.
Our daily journeys for work or leisure are about so much
more than just getting from A to B – they are the key to
accessing skilled jobs and opportunities, boosting
businesses and unlocking economic growth for towns,
cities and regions across this country.
That’s why improving connectivity by overhauling bus
services and making cycling easier than ever is such an
important step forward, to make sure every community has
the foundations it needs to thrive.
Transport Secretary said:
We want everyone across this country to have the
transport services they need to improve their lives and
opportunities – to do that, we must invest in the here
and now.
Through today’s buses funding we’ll be bringing about a
transformation in bus services to every community,
speeding up journeys and capping fares to make
high-quality services the norm.
Our long-term commitment to cycling could not be clearer,
with money for new routes, more cyclist support and new
‘Mini-Holland’ schemes, set to make our streets the
safest they have been for cyclists.
Chancellor said:
We want to level up transport services in every region of
the UK. As part of the plan, we are investing £5 billion
in bus and cycle links.
The extra funding will improve people’s everyday
journeys, making them quicker and easier.
