(Alliance News) - Bus companies in England will receive almost GBP170 million in new government funding to ensure services continue to operate during the coronavirus pandemic.
UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said on Friday that the investment will protect crucial local transport links across England for those unable to work from home.
Bus operators will be required to maintain up to 50% of normal service levels and allow adequate social distancing space between passengers on board under the conditions of the new GBP167 million funding pot.
Passengers must also be kept informed about any revised operating timetables, the Department for Transport said.
The package, which has been agreed with bus operators, will be paid over a 12-week period under the new Covid-19 Bus Services Support Grant.
The government said GBP200 million of existing funding under the Bus Services Operators Grant – which helps firms recover some of their fuel costs – will also continue to be paid.
Some GBP30 million of extra funding originally earmarked for starting new bus services will instead be paid to local authorities to maintain those already in existence, the DfT said.
In a statement, Shapps said: "Our buses are a lifeline for people who need to travel for work or to buy food – including our emergency services and NHS staff – and it's absolutely vital we do all we can to keep the sector running.
"This multimillion-pound investment will protect crucial local transport links across England, bolstering the sector and minimising disruption for passengers in the long term."
Councils have also been encouraged to maintain subsidies for concessionary fares to ensure older and disabled people can still travel.
It is understood the money will be available to any company operating a bus service in England, so could include FirstGroup PLC, National Express Group PLC, and Stagecoach Group PLC.
Graham Vidler, chief executive of the Confederation of Passenger Transport UK, welcomed the move.
"This funding is designed to plug the gap between the costs of running essential routes and revenue currently being received, and will help the country through the outbreak by allowing critical journeys to continue," he said.
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, said: "It's vital people protect our NHS by staying at home during the outbreak – but we also need to ensure that doctors, nurses and other key workers, can travel to and from their jobs.
"This funding will provide a lifeline for those on the frontline as well as those who cannot work from home."
By Luke Powell, PA
source: PA
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