Warrington’s bus network is set to benefit from an additional £1.2million as a share of £150million Government investment into bus services across the North and the Midlands. The funding comes as the first part of a £1billion investment into bus services from Network North, using reallocated funding from HS2 to improve more journeys for more people.
While it is up to local authorities in partnership with operators to decide how best to use the funding, the new funding for next year is enough to support up to 25 million miles of new bus services across the North and Midlands, helping local authorities provide more regular and reliable services or cheaper fares delivered through fare initiatives and ticket price caps.
The Government have also announced the £2 bus fare cap is to be extended across the country from next week until 31 December 2024.
The funding has been welcomed by Warrington South MP Andy Carter, who said:
The additional £1.2million for Warrington’s bus service is another example of the important transport investment our town has seen from this Government. This comes on top of the £42million total that’s already been put into the new zero-emission electric bus fleet, our new bus deport on Dallam Lane and cheaper fares for passengers, one of the largest pots of funding for bus service improvements in the country.
The reallocation of funding from HS2 means people living in Warrington will be able to get the better transport infrastructure investment we need. This includes our town benefitting from £12billion put into new East-West high speed rail connections and the opportunity for a hub station at Warrington Bank Quay linking Northern Powerhouse Rail to the West Coast Main Line using the low level platforms at the station.
The Transport Secretary, Mark Harper MP said:
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.
