- Funding allocated to local authorities to support local
services, ensuring passengers can continue to use the bus get to
work, shops and important appointments
- Investment will continue to help lower fares, improve bus
reliability and punctuality while preventing service
reductions
- Part of £3.5 billion investment since 2020 to protect and
improve bus services while keeping fares low, helping people to
save money on travel and grow the economy
Millions of people across England will benefit from lower fares,
improved reliability and better bus services, as the Government
delivers a further £80 million to support buses into 2025.
Today (Thursday 28 September), Roads Minister confirmed allocations for
64 local authorities across England from the £80 million
investment in the Bus Service Improvement Plan+ (BSIP+) for
2024-25.
Local authorities can use the funding to improve local buses in
several ways, such as by bringing in new services or routes,
extending timetables through new morning or evening buses, or by
making tickets cheaper through reduced fares for elderly or young
people, depending on what will be most valuable in their local
area.
The investment could also be used to protect hundreds of bus
services with low passenger numbers, so that people who rely on
them for essential services can continue to access their local
bus.
Roads Minister said:
“Buses are the most popular form of public transport, and
millions of people across the country from the Tees Valley to
Torbay rely on their local service to get to work, attend medical
appointments and see loved ones.
“We are providing a further £80 million to help local authorities
improve and protect essential services, delivering for local
communities across the country by enhancing transport
connections, supporting passengers and growing the
economy.”
The funding follows the first £80 million BSIP+ investment for
2023-24, and the previous £1 billion from
the first BSIP funding announced in 2022.
It comes on top of a further £140 million
announced in May from the extension of the Bus Service
Operators Grant (BSOG), taking the total to continue supporting
and protecting bus services across England to £300 million into
2025.
To help people with the cost of living and save on everyday
travel costs, the Government also invested £200 million to
extend the bus fare cap, with single bus tickets capped at £2
outside London until the end of October 2023 and then at £2.50
until 30 November 2024.
The £2 fare cap has cut travel costs
particularly in rural areas, where buses are crucial for so
many people to get around, with the average fare dropping by
10.8% in rural and non-metropolitan parts of England.
The measures take total Government support to protect and improve
bus services while keeping fares low to £3.5 billion since
2020.
While it is the responsibility of bus operators and local
transport authorities to ensure an adequate provision of bus
routes, the Government continues to work closely with the sector
to support local areas in dealing with changing travel patterns
while managing pressures on the taxpayer.
Janette Bell, Managing Director of First Bus
said:
“We welcome the certainty provided by today’s confirmation of the
next tranche of local authority funding allocations. We look
forward to working together with our local authority partners to
deliver the best services possible for our customers.
"At First Bus we are driven by a passion to get more people using
the bus and we welcome any funding that makes taking the bus an
easier travel choice.”
Today also marks the publication of the £2 Bus Fare Cap Second
Interim Evaluation report, analysing the initial impact of the
cap in January and February 2023, the first two months of the
measure.
According to the report, the “Get Around for £2” scheme has so
far encouraged people to get back on the bus, with almost half of
respondents saying the fare cap is the main reason they are using
the bus more. Over 50 million single bus tickets were sold in
England over January and February 2023, two-thirds of which were
capped.
Silviya Barrett, from Campaign for Better
Transport, said:
“We’re pleased the £2 bus fare cap we campaigned for has been a
success, reducing fares and boosting passenger numbers.
"The additional funds for local authorities announced today are
also welcome and we hope that this is just the start of ongoing
investment in bus networks across the country.”
In addition to the £3.5 billion to support buses since 2020, the
Government has provided £5.7 billion to 8 mayoral combined
authorities in England to support integrated, cross-modal
transport networks over the next 5 years through
the City Region Sustainable
Transport Settlement (CRSTS), including supporting bus
infrastructure.
The Department has also recently confirmed £129 million to roll out
hundreds more zero emission buses, with the first £25 million
prioritised specifically for rural communities. This brings total
government investment in new zero-emission buses to almost £500
million.
