In April 2020, the Department for Transport (DfT) announced additional funding for bus operators and local councils. This was to support bus services during the Covid-19 pandemic, when operators saw a decline in passengers following national and localised restrictions.
The local transport authority element of the Covid-19 Bus Services Support Grant (CBSSG) was allocated to support local bus services. This included tendered bus services that may have been experiencing revenue shortfalls.
The aim of the funding was to ensure that local bus services could continue to operate for those that needed them. It also provided support for bus services post Covid-19 while passenger numbers were still recovering. This also helped to support any adjustments to services required by the authority. These adjustments included additional cleaning on-board buses, at bus shelters and interchanges; facilitating social distancing requirements; and providing PPE when necessary.
Services supported by the CBSSG include Medilink, Easylink, L2/X2, L4, L5, L14, W1, A1 and A2.
Payments made
- Revenue loss: £545,483
- Cleaning shelters and interchanges: £59,277
- Additional service capacity: £266,400
- Temporary bus services: £48,700
- Additional cleaning carried out by operators: £56,050
