- After years of decline better buses are on the way - millions of funding will support local authorities in North East, improving journeys for millions of passengers.
- Multi-year funding gives councils the long-term certainty they have called for.
- Services will be more reliable so more people can better access jobs and opportunities, growing the economy.
Millions of passengers in the North East are set to benefit from faster, cheaper and more reliable buses after the Government announces a £70 million boost for services and infrastructure.
Multi-year funding will give combined authorities the freedom to spend their allocations in whatever way they see fit, allowing local authorities to run schemes like the North East’s young person’s fare offering £1 travel for passengers aged 21 and under.
For years local authorities in the North East have been held back from making long-term investments, but multi-year settlements will finally give the much-needed certainty to develop and drive forward plans which cater to the needs of their communities.
This landmark funding follows the Bus Services Act becoming law in October, which for the first time gave local authorities the power to run local services how they see fit and provides greater protection to socially necessary routes.
Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, said: “After years of decline, better buses are finally on the way. Our £3 billion investment will give local authorities the long-term funding they need to deliver lower fares, more frequent services, and the reliable transport that communities depend on.
"We've already extended the £3 bus fare cap to help people with their everyday journeys, and now we're backing this with the funding councils need to transform their local services.
"This is part of our wider plan to make public transport cheaper across the country – we've frozen rail fares for the first time in 30 years and we’re building Great British Railways to deliver better value for passengers.
"Whether it's the bus to work, the train to see family, or getting to a hospital appointment, affordable transport is essential to bearing down on the cost of living and growing our economy."
Minister for Roads and Buses, Simon Lightwood said: “For too long passengers have been let down by unreliable services, sub-standard bus stations and over a decade of routes being cut.
“This £3 billion boost will change this, providing passengers with lower fares, more frequent and reliable services and safer journeys – helping both ease the cost of living and making it easier for people to get to work, hospital appointments and social plans, boosting the economy.”
The allocations bring together various bus funding streams into one source. Millions in funding will be allocated to local authorities in the North East every single year up to 2028/29 and can be spent however they want.
It means local leaders rather than Whitehall will decide how bus services should be run, continuing the Government’s commitment to ensuring services are run for people, not profit.
North East Mayor, Kim McGuinness, said: “We’ve been calling loudly for months that we need more investment to keep our bus fares low and that's what we've secured. It means I can bring forward plans so my Mayor's Fares, £1 for a young person and £2.50 for an adult, can be extended until March 2027.
"We will also be able to continue to protect local bus services that our communities rely on every day to get to work, or college or to see friends and family. However, more needs to be done for passengers. That's why we've started the process to bring our buses back under public control so they work for people, not profit.”
Today's announcement is part of the Government's wider commitment to making public transport cheaper and more reliable, bearing down on the cost of living for working people.
Freezing rail fares for the first time in 30 years will save commuters on more expensive routes more than £300 per year, meaning they keep more of their hard-earned cash.
The Government is also reforming the railways through Great British Railways, which will bring fares and ticketing into the 21st century with tap in tap out and digital ticketing, delivering better value for money for passengers.