The Chronicle reports that North East leaders have pleaded with the Government to act now to save bus passengers from being hit with yet more devastating cuts

Ministers have been warned that they must offer to extend emergency cash support to bus companies in order to stave off another swathe of service reductions.

Government grants have propped up struggling public transport providers suffering heavily reduced passenger numbers since the onset of the Covid pandemic.

But while patronage levels on North East buses are still roughly 25% down on pre-Covid times, the Bus Recovery Grant is due to expire at the start of October.

There are fears across the North of England that private bus companies will soon announce a raft of new cuts if the funding is discontinued.

Routes across the North East have already seen major cutbacks this year, with Tyne and Wear Metro operator Nexus saying it estimates that roughly 100 fewer buses per day are now running in the area compared to in March.

Full article:

The Chronicle - Fear of yet more 'devastating' cuts to North East bus routes as leaders plead for new funding

However, the Government announced on the 19th of August a funding of £130 million to protect bus services across the country and a six-month extension to the Bus Recovery Grant scheme.

Further details can be found below:

GOV.UK - £130 million to protect bus services across the country

GOV.UK - Claiming the Bus Recovery Grant