Cash from scrapped section of HS2 will be used to improve bus services in north west

The North West is set to benefit from more than £42 million of new funding to improve bus services over the next financial year with funding coming from the scrapped northern leg of HS2, the Transport Secretary has announced today.

This is the first tranche of £1 billion worth of new funding that the Government is dedicating to bus services across the North and the Midlands as part of the Network North Plan - with further funding allocations to be announced in due course.

While is up to local authorities in partnership with operators to decide how best to use the funding, the total £150m funding for next year across the North and Midlands is enough to support up to 25 million miles of new bus services, helping local authorities provide more regular and reliable services or cheaper fares delivered through fare initiatives and ticket price caps. 

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “Today’s announcement marks the start of the Network North plan coming into action.

“We’re backing buses with one of the biggest ever support packages and keeping bus fares down to ensure the country’s favourite means of transport is more affordable for millions of people.  

“This government is taking the right long-term decisions to deliver on our vision for a fairer and improved transport system by investing billions back into to the transport projects that matter most to people and their communities."

Local authorities may use the additional funding to reintroduce evening services to support the night time economy, increase service frequency meaning less waiting time for passengers, introduce new routes to ensure areas previously unconnected are now connected or introduce a Demand Responsive Transport service to improve connectivity in rural areas.

The “Get Around For £2” bus fare cap scheme will also be extended. The cap had been due to rise to £2.50 but will instead remain at £2 and continue until the end of next year.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper added: “Buses are the most popular form of public transport, which is why we are continuing to back our buses with record high levels of funding – supporting vital bus services and offering affordable travel for passengers.

“This increase in funding to deliver more reliable, frequent and affordable local bus services – and to extend the £2 bus fare cap – has only been possible with the redirected HS2 funding secured by this Government making the right long-term decisions for a brighter future.”