London United BYD Alexander Dennis BCE 47032 (LE21 FRX), a recent zero emission delivery. The rollout of zero emission buses across London could be in jeopardy, however. MARK LYONS
A nightmare scenario of huge cuts to bus services has been presented to Transport for London’s (TfL) finance committee because the authority has discovered a £1.9bn funding gap. It says that unless the government guarantees cash to maintain the UK capital’s transport network beyond April 2023, it will have to introduce a strategy of 'managed decline.'
TfL is already required to break even by April 2023 in terms of its day-to-day income and expenditure, with fare income having to match running costs. Although passenger numbers on the bus network have returned to 71% of pre-Covid levels, this is lower than expected, largely due to a slower return to the workplace and delays in opening up the UK to inbound tourism.
The current government financial support package ends on December 11 and TfL is now seeking £500m for the remainder of the current financial year and £1.2bn for 2022/23 to maintain services at current levels. The…
