Response to new Government support for bus services

“Buses are important to get key people to work during these difficult times. The massive fall in the number of people using public transport is welcome in the context of the response to Coronavirus but is putting huge financial pressure on transport authorities and operators," says Cllr Kim Groves

3 April 2020

Responding to the Government’s announcement of extra financial support bus services, Cllr Kim Groves, Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Transport Committee, said:

“Buses are important to get key people to work during these difficult times. The massive fall in the number of people using public transport is welcome in the context of the response to Coronavirus but is putting huge financial pressure on transport authorities and operators.

“Funding from the Government and the Combined Authority will go some way to alleviating that pressure in the short term and we will be working with our partners in the West Yorkshire Bus Alliance to ensure this money helps support a resilient bus network for key workers and to ensure those that need to travel can do so while following social distancing guidelines.

“However, the impact of Coronavirus will require a longer term strategy for the recovery of the public transport network when the pandemic has passed.”

Details of the Government's announcement to support bus services in England can be found here (opens in new tab).