The Transport Secretary has just announced that the North and Midlands regions of England are to receive a substantial £150 million boost in funding for the enhancement of bus services throughout the upcoming fiscal year.
The funding signifies the initial stage of an impressive £1 billion investment set to revolutionise bus services as part of the Network North Plan, with potential for additional allocations to be revealed in the near future. Collaborative efforts between local authorities and service providers will be decided, meaning potentially that in 2024 up to 25 million miles of new bus services could be supported. Further, this translates to increased reliability, regularity, and affordability for passengers, achieved through fare initiatives and ticket price caps.
The primary source of this funding comes from the reallocation of resources initially designated for the High-Speed 2 (HS2) project. By integrating these funds into the Network North Plan, the Government aims to achieve a comprehensive £36 billion plan to improve daily transport connections that matter most to the people residing in the North and Midlands.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has endorsed this milestone by stating: “Today’s announcement marks the start of the Network North plan coming into action. We’re backing buses with one of the biggest ever support packages and keeping bus fares down to ensure the country’s favourite means of transport is more affordable for millions of people. This government is taking the right long-term decisions to deliver on our vision for a fairer and improved transport system by investing billions back into the transport projects that matter most to people and their communities.”
The £150 million funding from redirected HS2 resources is targeted at levelling up the bus services. It includes provisions to support evening services for the evening economy, enhanced service frequency, introduction of new routes, and development of the Demand Responsive Transport services to increase connectivity in rural areas.
The ‘Get Around For £2’ bus fare cap scheme will also be extended again to continue to help people save money. The cap had been due to rise to £2.50 but will instead remain at £2 and continue until 31 December 2024 thanks to the redirected HS2 funding behind the new Network North plan. This takes total government investment to cap bus fares at £2 to nearly £600 million.
Transport Secretary, Mark Harper, noted: “Buses are the most popular form of public transport, which is why we are continuing to back our buses with record high levels of funding – supporting vital bus services and offering affordable travel for passengers.
This increase in funding to deliver more reliable, frequent and affordable local bus services – and to extend the £2 bus fare cap – has only been possible with the redirected HS2 funding secured by this government making the right long-term decisions for a brighter future.”
Since the introduction of the £2 bus fare cap in January 2023, passengers have benefited from lower fares, resulting in a 7.4% reduction in bus fares outside London between June 2022 and June 2023. Additionally, a recent report by the Department for Transport indicated that almost half of the respondents cited the fare cap as the primary reason for increased bus usage. The funding also includes a 60% boost for community services catering to older and vulnerable passengers.
These essential services provide access to medical appointments, shopping, and social interactions. The increase in funding through the Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) has been applauded by organisations working with vulnerable passengers who rely on these services.
Roxana Hurjui, Bus Centre of Excellence