A National Audit Office (NAO) report reveals a significant decline in local bus services in England, with a 15% reduction in miles operated since 2019. Despite government investment efforts, passenger numbers remain 9% below pre-COVID levels, and nearly half of local authorities report poor service delivery capacity. Rising congestion and diverted funding to COVID emergency subsidies have compounded the decline. Future reforms by the Labour government may empower local transport authorities but implementing these changes poses financial and operational challenges.
"Bus travel should be an easy and reliable transport choice but governments' efforts to revitalize services have not halted the steady decline of local bus services in England."
"Despite the promises of the £3 billion investment by the previous government, much of the funding has instead been used for emergency COVID subsidies, hindering actual service improvements."
Collection
[
|
...
]