Everyone at the Confederation of Passenger Transport, and the whole coach and bus industry, joins the nation in mourning the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Our thoughts and sympathies are with the Royal Family at this time.
The sad news comes at the end of an extremely busy conclusion to the summer. First came the announcement from the Department for Transport (DfT) that Bus Recovery Grant in England would be extended for a further six months, at a cost of £130m. This will bring some short-term relief to bus operators and local authority partners trying to adapt networks to new post-pandemic travel patterns.
More recently, after much speculation, DfT announced a £2 fare cap on all single bus journeys in England in a scheme set to run for three months from January 2023.
It is, of course, eye-catching news, but fares are just one tool that can make buses more attractive. We also need a focus on priority measures that will keep buses out of congestion, speed up journey times, help to keep fares low and ensure that buses are reliable – factors that we know are important for passengers.
We look forward to understanding in detail how the proposed fare cap in England will work in practice to ensure that it supports the long-term sustainability of bus networks.
And of course, Liz Truss entered Number 10 as the new Prime Minister and has named Anne-Marie Trevelyan as her Secretary of State for Transport. Ministerial appointments are still unclear as we go to press.
We have written to the new Prime Minister and Transport Secretary highlighting the support that the sector needs to maximise its contribution to the national challenges of the cost of living, levelling up and net zero.
In her victory speech, Ms Truss concluded that she will “deliver, deliver, deliver.” A focus she shares with our industry. And we will be highlighting to the new government the vital contribution that we make by delivering services that support so much of British life.
