Plans to create an all-electric bus fleet in Greater Manchester and the development of a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) network in Liverpool are among the beneficiaries of the £15.6 billion funding package for transport projects in England.
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 says.
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.
Boost for Liverpool BRT network
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.
Nottingham-Derby connections to be improved
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.
The 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 £15.6 billion 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.”
The government highlights that the five-year package represents more than a doubling of real-terms capital spending on local transport in city regions by 2029/30 compared with 2024/25.
Funding broadly welcomed by industry
The Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) welcomed the investment in buses but called for more funding to be directed towards improving bus priority.
Graham Vidler, CPT Chief Executive, says: “Millions of people who live and work in city regions will welcome this investment in public transport. It is vital that a healthy chunk of the money is spent on buses, which account for two out of three journeys and are by far the nation’s favourite form of public transport.
“Buses are the most flexible and cost-effective way of getting around towns and cities. And they deliver value – every pound invested in buses generates £4.55 of economic and environmental benefit.
“Some of this funding could be used to speed up journeys by investing in bus lanes and priority schemes to allow public transport to bypass congestion.
“We look forward to seeing this money for city regions matched in the Spending Review next week with both capital and revenue funding across the country to ensure that all passengers, no matter whether they live in a village, town or big city, can benefit from faster, more frequent and better buses.”
Andrew Carter, Chief Executive of Centre for Cities, adds: “This announcement reflects a clear and welcome shift toward a city region-led approach – essential for delivering long-term, broad-based national prosperity.
“Investment in the transport networks of our city regions is a critical step toward boosting local economies by helping people access jobs and education opportunities more easily.
“Giving mayors long-term, devolved funding allows them to plan and deliver major projects – like tram extensions and new bus services – that are tailored to the needs of their areas.
“To make the most of this investment, it should be matched with greater powers for metro mayors, including over spatial planning, to align transport with housing and economic development.”
