Bus services in all parts of England will be boosted by almost £1 billion of new funding, the government has pledged.
The Ministry of Transport announced the investment for 2025 last month.
Confirming details of its plans, the government said money would be allocated based on need, population and levels of deprivation – instead of regions competing for investment as in previous years.
In total, £712 million will be allocated to local authorities to improve services, plus a further £243 million to bus operators.
The DfT says Leicester, the Isle of Wight, Torbay, Southend, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough are set to receive “unprecedented” levels of investment.
Around 3.4 million people in England travel regularly by bus, making it the most widely used mode of public transport.
Local authorities in all English regions will be able to introduce new bus routes, make services more frequent and protect essential routes, the DfT says.
He added that this money will allow more urban areas to maintain high levels of service. Meanwhile, rural communities and small towns will be able to offer more services.
Writing in the Sunday Mirror, Transport Secretary Louise Haigh said: “It's simple: buses must be available, be affordable and be on time. Our funding helps them do just that. »
Haigh said: “This represents a record capital investment in the majority of locations and a once-in-a-generation reform plan that aims to deliver London-style buses to every corner of the country – including areas usually overlooked. “
The announcement comes ahead of the Buses Bill, which aims to give local transport authorities across England new powers to run their own services.
An additional £151 million will also fund a cap on single bus fares outside London, which rose to £3 last month, until the end of 2025.
The Liberal Democrats called on the government to reverse course on the capping decision, saying it would hit both commuters and local businesses.
Sir Ed Davey said on Friday: “The fare cap increase is like a bus tax on people across the country, impacting bus users and commuters who are already struggling to make ends meet.
“MPs must have their say on this bus fare hike on behalf of their constituents.”
But the Department for Transport said the fare cap introduced by the previous government was due to expire at the end of 2024 and some fares would have skyrocketed if it had not intervened.
“Fares will only be allowed to rise as normal with inflation, and the £3 fare cap will result in savings of up to 80% on some routes, keeping bus tickets affordable across the country,” he said. -he declared.
