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: Modest funding ‘can protect Wales bus services 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 > Modest funding ‘can protect Wales bus services to 2024’
BusBus re-regulationNewsOperatorsPoliticsTop Story

Modest funding ‘can protect Wales bus services to 2024’

Tim Deakin
Tim Deakin
Published: May 17, 2023
Share
Modest sum of money would protect bus services in Wales
SHARE

Modest additional funding from the Welsh Government will protect bus services in Wales until the end of March 2024, members of the Senedd Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee were told by the industry on 11 May.

The session heard of worries among operators, local authorities and politicians over what will otherwise happen if the Bus Emergency Scheme (BES) ends as scheduled on 24 July. Deputy Minister for Climate Change Lee Waters previously said that a “skeleton” level of provision could result between then and the planned introduction of franchising.

Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) Director Aaron Hill and Newport Transport Managing Director and Coach and Bus Association Cymru Chair Scott Pearson both told the Committee that a relatively low sum of new money – potentially as little as £10 million – will allow current service levels to be maintained until 31 March 2024.

Critical to any such funding would be its combination with unspent concessionary reimbursement. The precise value of the latter pot is unknown, but Welsh Local Government Association Leader Cllr Andrew Morgan says that 25% of the total allocated to concessionary payments is thought to be the amount in hand.

“The Minister has agreed to ringfence that funding for use as part of the extension of BES,” he continues. Mr Pearson adds that discussions between the Welsh Government and operators have also indicated that the concessionary underspend will go towards protecting services post-July.

Whether the called for additional funding will materialise remains to be seen, but “the sums are being done behind the scenes,” says Mr Hill. He believes that a willingness to find a solution exists within the Welsh Government.

Against current uncertainty over funding, bus patronage is growing in Wales. Mr Hill notes that country-wide, it is at around 80% of pre-pandemic levels. Reasonable stability in networks under BES has contributed to that, Mr Pearson believes. Wholesale change if the Scheme comes to an end in July will undo that work, he continues.

Should the worst happen, Mr Hill estimates that in one part of Wales only 20% of bus services would be left untouched as a result of a withdrawal of revenue funding.

That unspent concessionary funding is available to support bus services is as a result of ongoing poor recovery of passenger numbers in that demographic. Mr Hill estimates that across Wales, around 50-60% of those users have returned so far.

If the hoped-for additional money is allocated by ministers, it need to come soon. “Pace is really, really key,” says the CPT Cymru Director, noting that “we have to put a bit of fire under the [Welsh] Government to get things moving quickly” when notice periods around service changes are considered.

Read the transcript of the Committee session here.

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 Header image with coach showing RTC Crisis Line McCarron Coates’ new RTC Crisis Line deemed a ‘must’ for coach operators
Next Article Arriva and Stagecoach work together via Warwickshire Enhanced Bus Partnership Arriva and Stagecoach work together in Warwickshire
- 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