LONDON, March 15 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Boris
Johnson will invest 3 billion pounds ($4.17 billion) in
England's bus network, aiming to provide more frequent, cheaper
services to encourage people to catch the bus instead of using
the car.
Under the shake-up of England's bus industry, the government
said it will add hundreds of miles of new bus lanes, bring in
contactless payments on all buses, and provide more evening and
weekend services.
"Our reforms will make buses the transport of choice,
reducing the number of car journeys and improving quality of
life for millions," Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a
statement.
In England, private companies such as Stagecoach and
Go-Ahead, are contracted to run bus services. They have
been financially supported by the government in the pandemic as
passenger numbers plunged.
Under Johnson's new plans, the Department for Transport said
that local authorities and operators would form partnerships to
deliver the services, or could develop franchise agreements.
The plans will help provide better services in parts of the
country which suffer from poor public transport links, said
Johnson, fitting in with his "levelling up" agenda.
The government said it will also bring in 4,000 new electric
or hydrogen buses and end sales of new diesel buses to cut
emissions.
Stagecoach Chief Executive Martin Griffiths said in a
statement he welcomed the ambition of the government's new bus
strategy, adding that the importance of buses in local
communities had long been overlooked.
"It is critical that the new bus strategy is matched by the
right level of funding, consistent policy across government and
a flexible partnership approach which prioritises benefits for
customers," he said.
($1 = 0.7187 pounds)
(Reporting by Sarah Young; Editing by Kate Holton)
