By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.
Accept
routeonerouteonerouteone
  • News
    • Show all
    • Awards & Events
    • Deliveries
    • Environment
    • Exhibitor News
    • Euro Bus Expo 2024
    • Features
    • Legal
    • Minibus and minicoach
    • Operators
    • Opinion
    • People
    • Suppliers
    • Vehicles
  • Vehicles
    • Find a Vehicle
    • ZEV Comparison Tool
    • Sell a Vehicle
    • Vehicle Seller Dashboard
  • Insights
  • Careers
  • Events
    • British Tourism & Travel Show
    • Euro Bus Expo
    • Innovation Challenge
    • Livery Competition
    • routeone Awards
  • Advertise
  • Contact
    • Share your news
    • Subscribe
    • Update Subscription Details
  • Latest Issue
  • SIGN UP
Search
© 2024 routeone News. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: England bus funding extended into 2025; BFCG to 2024
Share
Font ResizerAa
routeonerouteone
Font ResizerAa
Search
  • News
    • Show all
    • Awards & Events
    • Deliveries
    • Environment
    • Exhibitor News
    • Euro Bus Expo 2024
    • Features
    • Legal
    • Minibus and minicoach
    • Operators
    • Opinion
    • People
    • Suppliers
    • Vehicles
  • Vehicles
    • Find a Vehicle
    • ZEV Comparison Tool
    • Sell a Vehicle
    • Vehicle Seller Dashboard
  • Insights
  • Careers
  • Events
    • British Tourism & Travel Show
    • Euro Bus Expo
    • Innovation Challenge
    • Livery Competition
    • routeone Awards
  • Advertise
  • Contact
    • Share your news
    • Subscribe
    • Update Subscription Details
  • Latest Issue
  • SIGN UP
Follow US
© 2024 routeone News | Powered by Diversified Business Communications UK Ltd
- Advertisement -
-
routeone > Bus > England bus funding extended into 2025; BFCG to 2024
BusBus routesNewsOperatorsPoliticsTop Story

England bus funding extended into 2025; BFCG to 2024

Tim Deakin
Tim Deakin
Published: May 17, 2023
Share
Funding for bus services in England extended into 2025
SHARE

The government has extended revenue funding for bus services in England outside London into 2025 in keenly-awaited longer-term support for the sector. It has also pushed expiry of the Bus Fare Cap Grant (BFCG) scheme to November 2024 in a combined settlement across both streams that is worth £500 million.

Of that total, £300 million is to protect services over the coming two years. £160 million will go to local transport authorities (LTAs) “to improve fares, services and infrastructure,” while £140 million will be paid directly to operators. The outstanding £200 million is for BFCG.

The money direct to operators will not form an extension of Bus Recovery Grant, which will end as planned on 30 June. Instead, from 1 July a new Bus Service Operators Grant Plus mechanism will commence. Details of that, and how it will be claimed by operators, will be supplied soon, the Department for Transport (DfT) says.

Allocation of that longer-term settlement is intended to allow services to be protected in the interim period “while allowing local authorities and operators to determine the routes that work for local areas,” the Department continues.

DfT notes that responsibility for such work sits with those bodies and not central government. Confederation of Passenger Transport CEO Graham Vidler has welcomed the two-year settlement, but he cautions that neither it nor the BFCG extension “will save every route in every part of the country.”

Adds Mr Vidler: “Operators and local authorities will now work together to study the detail of the government’s proposals and ensure that the funding is used to safeguard the best possible network for passengers.”

Further bus funding for services in England
The bus industry in England, its representatives and local authorities have repeatedly called for an extension to revenue funding to support services

Allocation of further funding to support bus services in England follows exertion of pressure by the bus industry, its representatives and most recently a group of LTAs.

All of those groups have pointed to the risk of significant cuts to services beyond 30 June if a ‘cliff edge’ end to existing revenue support was not avoided.

Meanwhile, the extension to BFCG comes despite Under-Secretary of State for Transport Richard Holden having said in late March that the scheme would not run for longer than six months.

The further allocation of up to £200 million will see fares in England outside London on participating operators’ services capped at £2 until 31 October. The cap will then become £2.50 until November 2024. At that point, the government “will review [the caps’] effectiveness and future bus fares.”

DfT says that further extension of BFCG forms part of the Help for Households scheme. In a second indication that buses have gained a greater prominence in government, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has commented on the £500 million overall package, noting that ministers are “determined to protect local routes and encourage more people onto the bus.”

Operators participating in the BFCG extension “will be confirmed in due course,” DfT adds. While a number elected not to form part of the Grant’s first phase citing uncertainty over reimbursement, some of those businesses – including Rotala’s  Diamond Bus-branded subsidiaries in the Midlands – did join for the second round from 1 April.

Share This Article
Facebook LinkedIn Threads Email Copy Link
ByTim Deakin
Tim is Editor of routeone and has worked in both the coach and bus and haulage industries.
Previous Article Arriva and Stagecoach work together via Warwickshire Enhanced Bus Partnership Arriva and Stagecoach work together in Warwickshire
Next Article Leighton Buzzard bus network overhauled and free trial introduced Free travel trial part of Leighton Buzzard bus overhaul
- Advertisement -

Latest News

Temsa HD12 and HD13 delivered to Cresta Coaches under Asset Alliance rental deal
Temsa pair join Cresta Coaches on Asset Alliance rental agreement
Deliveries
Go-Ahead London – Managing Director
Careers Jobs
andy burnham tfgm £15.6 billion (1) The funding announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves today (4 June) has been allocated to several combined mayoral authorities to use on rail, tram, road and bus infrastructure. Transport for Greater Manchester revealed today that part of the £2.5 billion it will receive will go towards making the Bee Network fully battery-electric by 2030. An as-yet undecided portion of that will support a planned investment in 1,000 new zero-emission buses over that period, the mayoral authority said. That is part of plans to build the UK's "first fully integrated, zero-emission public transport system", with trams and trains also set to benefit. Liverpool City Region's already announced BRT system is among the projects to which its £1.6 billion will be allocated. Under those plans - due for realisation by 2028 - a high-speed network will be served by articulated buses which are modelled on the 'Glider' in Belfast. It is due to link Liverpool city centre with John Lennon Airport, and Liverpool FC and Everton FC's respective stadia along three routes. Although the model of bus has not been confirmed, a Van Hool Exqui.City on loan from Belfast was last year used as a demonstrator. That 18m vehicle can accommodate around 30% more passengers than a typical bus and has three sets of double doors. The funding will also go towards buses elsewhere in the city as the region heads towards franchising services by 2027. Liverpool Mayor Steve Rotheram with a 'Glider' which was on loan from Belfast last year - an example of the sort of bus which could serve the new BRT Bus services in the East Midlands region will be boosted by the funding, thanks to the £2 billion handed to it today by the government. Some of that allocation will be used for a rapid transit network on the Trent Arc between Nottingham and Derby. Between the two cities, the Freeport, Infinity Park Investment Zone and Ratcliffe-on-Soar will also benefit from the improved bus services. South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority's newly announced commitment towards bus franchising has been boosted by £350 million in funding as part of that region's allocation. The funding for West Yorkshire will help build new bus stations in Bradford and Wakefield. Likewise, the Tees Valley Mayoral Authority will put its sum towards a new £15 million bus station in Middlesbrough. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander says: "Today marks a watershed moment on our journey to improving transport across the North and Midlands – opening up access to jobs, growing the economy and driving up quality of life as we deliver our Plan for Change. "For too long, people in the North and Midlands have been locked out of the investment they deserve. With £15.6bn of government investment, we’re giving local leaders the means to drive cities, towns and communities forward, investing in Britain’s renewal so you and your family are better off."
TfGM’s all-electric bus plan boosted by new £15.6 billion package
News
Local Transport Minister opens First Bus electric depot in Hengrove
Local Transport Minister opens First Bus electric depot in Hengrove
Bus
- Advertisement -
-

routeone magazine is the indispensable resource for professional UK coach, bus and minibus operators. The home of vehicle sales and the latest bus and coach job vacancies, routeone connects professional PCV operators with complete and unrivalled news coverage.

  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • GDPR Policy
  • Sustainability
  • Advertise
  • Latest Issue
  • Share Your News
routeonerouteone
Follow US
© 2024 routeone News | Powered by Diversified Business Communications UK Ltd