Prime Minister reveals major boost for bus services

Boris Johnson is set to announce that bus services across the country will be transformed with simpler fares, thousands of new buses and improved routes.

In a statement to Parliament, the Prime Minister will announce £5 billion of new funding to overhaul bus and cycle links for every region outside London as part of a new vision to level up local transport connections throughout the country, making every day journeys easier, greener and more convenient. This forms a five-year funding package.

The package of investment will boost bus services by focusing on a range of priorities, including: higher frequency services, including evenings and weekends, to make it easier and less restrictive for people to get around at any time of day; an increase in ‘turn up and to will make routes more efficient, so that buses avoid congested routes and can speed passengers through traffic; and at least 4,000 new Zero Emission Buses to make greener travel the convenient option, driving forward the UK’s progress on its net zero ambitions.

Cycle routes will also see a major boost across the country with over 250 miles of new, high-quality separated cycle routes and safe junctions in towns and cities to be constructed across England. As such, dozens of new ‘Mini-Holland’ schemes will be taken forward to transform town centres across the country to make them safer to get around.

Johnson said: “Local transport connections have a truly transformative role to play in levelling up infrastructure across the country. Our daily journeys for work or leisure are about so much more than just getting from A to B – they are the key to accessing skilled jobs and opportunities, boosting businesses and unlocking economic growth for towns, cities and regions across this country. That’s why improving connectivity by overhauling bus services and making cycling easier than ever is such an important step forward, to make sure every community has the foundations it needs to thrive.”

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps added: “We want everyone across this country to have the transport services they need to improve their lives and opportunities – to do that, we must invest in the here and now. Through today’s buses funding we’ll be bringing about a transformation in bus services to every community, speeding up journeys and capping fares to make high-quality services the norm. Our long-term commitment to cycling could not be clearer, with money for new routes, more cyclist support and new ‘Mini-Holland’ schemes, set to make our streets the safest they have been for cyclists.”