Extended bus and light rail support to October 2022
The Department for Transport announce further 6 months support in a £150 million package for bus and light rail services in England.
Announced on 1st March, and running to October 2022, the government package represents the final tranche of support related to the pandemic.
The new funding will support operators and authorities adapting to changing travel patterns, as well as continued delivery of enhanced partnerships and work on bus improvement plans. There are no details as to how the funding will be apportioned yet, government says this will follow in due course.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said:
‘The funding I’ve announced today will ensure millions of us can continue to use vital public transport services and brings the total we’ve provided to the sector to keep services running throughout the pandemic to over £2 billion.
Not only that – as we look ahead and continue our work to overhaul services and build back better from the pandemic, this funding will also help authorities and operators work together to provide even better services for people right across the country.
The government is investing over £3 billion in bus services by 2025, including £1.2 billion to improve fares, services and infrastructure, and a further £525 million for zero emission buses.’
The funding is dependent on the co-designing of financially sustainable passenger focused public transport networks post pandemic.
Further information: