Industry calls for post-Covid partnerships

Stagecoach North East has hired four MCV-bodied Volvo B9TLs, new to Golden Tours in London, from the Ensign dealership to provide additional capacity on routes in Newcastle. This is 80046 (BV13 ZCZ), still in its original owner’s blue. 

STEVEN HODGSON

The Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) wants £500million to be ring-fenced in 2021/22 for post-Covid recovery partnerships once the UK government’s Coronavirus Bus Service Support Grant (CBSSG) in England comes to an end. The Urban Transport Group (UTG) wants funding to be devolved to the city regions. 

The CPT says its proposal would allow operators and local authorities to work together, building on the close relationship achieved in many places during the pandemic ‘to deliver a bus network that meets the needs of passengers and delivers sustainable growth in passenger numbers’. 

‘Buses remain fundamental to millions of people’s daily lives,’ says chief executive Graham Vidler. ‘As we recover from the pandemic we will need to review and reset services to meet the needs of passengers as people go about their lives differently.