In big news for those of you still putting off getting your drivers licence, the Department for Transport (DfT) has promised that a huge £1 billion will go towards bringing ‘London-style’ bus services to every corner of England. Viva la public transport!
What exactly makes a bus ‘London-style’? A bright red exterior? A £1.75 fare cap? The fact that they actually move really, really slowly? Well, according to the DfT, they are bus services that exist under a franchise system, allowing local authorities to decide routes, timetables and fares.
The funding will reportedly help areas introduce new routes, make services more frequent and reliable and protect crucial routes, particularly in rural areas. It’ll amount to just under £1bn, with £712m allocated for local authorities to improve services, and £243m for bus operators.
Torbay, the Isle of Wight, Southend, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough are areas set to receive ‘unprecedented’ levels of funding through the scheme. South Yorkshire and Liverpool City Region authorities are also set to get a significant boost.
The news comes ahead of the government’s new Buses Bill, which will be introduced to give local transport authorities across England new powers to take control of their bus services. Sadly, the national bus fare cap won’t be cut to match London’s – it’ll still rise from £2 to £3.
Britain by bus
What else is going on in the world of buses, you ask? Well, junk food ads are being banned across UK buses, Flixbus recently launched its first ever affordable coach routes between the UK and Ireland, Time Out got a first look at Liverpool’s new ‘glider’ buses and Manchester is trialling more 24-hour bus services. And if you’re a real bus buff, you’ll definitely want to hitch a ride on one of the UK’s most scenic bus routes.
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