£81 million Government funding to boost bus services across the East Midlands

Every part of the East Midlands is set to receive funding to improve buses for passengers at a level that is unprecedented in recent years, with the region receiving £81 million in Government funding overall.

Every region in England will benefit from the funding, but those areas that have been historically underserved are being particularly prioritised.

The funding settlement will mean many more urban areas will be able to maintain their high levels of service, while other areas will be able to offer more services. It represents a record level of recent investment in bus improvements for the majority of areas, alongside once-in-a-generation reforms to deliver London-style bus services to every corner of the country.

The investment has been designated to enhance popular routes, protect rural services, and increase bus use for shopping, socialising, and commuting. It will prevent service reductions on at-risk routes and improve punctuality across England, bringing an end to the current postcode lottery of unreliable services.

In recent years, services have consistently suffered from complicated and inconsistent funding, which has ultimately impacted passengers. Today’s reformed funding settlement marks a departure from that approach, with a simplified commitment from the Government, giving bus providers the certainty they have long been calling for.

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As part of this investment, the way funding is allocated has been reformed, meaning it will now be allocated based on place need, levels of deprivation, and population. This will stop areas competing for funding as in previous years, which in turn wasted resources and delayed decisions.

Transport Secretary Louise Haigh said:

“The value of regular and reliable bus services cannot be understated.

“For far too long, the East Midlands has been suffering from unreliable services, with buses hugely delayed or not even turning up at all.

“This funding kickstarts the bus revolution to bring an end to the postcode lottery of bus services, drive economic growth, and make sure people have proper access to jobs and opportunities.

“We’ve already committed over £150 million to extend the bus fare cap and keep fares low, and this nearly £1 billion of further funding will mean local routes are protected, reliability is improved, and the passenger is put first.”

This investment will ensure that lifeline services between towns and hospitals can continue transporting patients to vital appointments, supporting the Government’s ambitions to reform the NHS.

Buses remain the most relied-upon form of public transport, and the Government says that it is turning the tide on decades of failed deregulation. The Buses Bill will be introduced in this parliamentary session and will give local leaders across England greater control to deliver bus services in a way that suits the needs of their communities. Local authorities will be empowered to deliver modern and integrated bus networks that put passengers at the heart of local decision-making.

Alongside the £955 million, £150 million has already been committed to extending the bus fare cap and helping people with the cost of living and everyday travel costs. The cap will now run until 31st December 2025 and ensure that the flat rate for journeys remains at £3, enabling savings of up to 80% on some routes.

This is on top of the additional £200 million CRSTS funding announced in the Autumn Budget, helping to improve local transport in our largest city regions and drive growth and productivity across the country.

This Government is fixing the foundations and delivering change with investment and reform to deliver growth, with more jobs, more money in people’s pockets, and a rebuilt Britain.

•  Nottingham City Transport bus service changes from today Sunday 17 November