Secretary of State for Transport (): The government
recognises the importance of local bus networks to ensuring
communities can stay connected, and in enabling people to access
work, education and vital local services such as healthcare. We
also know that the bus sector faces challenges following the
COVID-19 pandemic, including lower levels of bus patronage
compared to pre-pandemic levels.
The government to date has taken action to help address some of
the challenges faced by the sector and passengers following on
from the pandemic, to protect vital local bus services by
providing £2 billion in additional funding, including investing
£60 million to help operators cap single tickets at £2 in England
outside London from 1 January to 31 March. We have also announced
our intention to invest up to £75 million to extend the £2 bus fare cap for a
further 3 months until 30 June 2023.
Over 140 operators covering more than 4,600 routes are currently
signed up to participate in the scheme, which is designed to help
passengers to save on their regular travel costs and boost
patronage on buses. The scheme is showing early signs of
increased bus use, with an independent survey of 1,000 people
from passenger watchdog Transport Focus showing 7% of people
saying they are using the bus more. Participation in the scheme
from operators is voluntary, and as such the Department for
Transport will now work with the operators to re-confirm their
participation for this extended period.
It has also become clear that without further support for the bus
sector once the Bus Recovery Grant ends, a temporary grant
provided to help adjust services to new travel patterns following
on from the COVID-19 pandemic, there would be a risk of
reductions to bus services throughout England, outside of London.
The government has therefore announced on 20 February that we
will be extending the Bus Recovery Grant for a further 3 months
at a cost of up to £80 million to continue supporting bus
services until 30 June 2023.
The £155 million additional funding to extend the Bus Recovery
Grant and the £2 Bus Fare Cap we have announced demonstrates this
government’s continued commitment to supporting local bus
services, and working closely with bus operators and Local
Transport Authorities to deliver on the ambition set out in the
National Bus Strategy for everyone, everywhere to have access to
affordable and reliable bus services.
