Funding for local bus services down by 28% since 2010

Photo: Journeaux

Funding for local bus services in Greater Manchester has been cut by 28% since 2010

Funding for local bus services in Greater Manchester has been cut by 28% since 2010, according to new TUC analysis.

The analysis shows that in 2010, spending on bus services in the region was £44.8 million. But by 2018, this had fallen to £32.3 million as a result of cuts to local government funding.

In the wider North West region, Halton and Cumbria have experienced the sharpest falls funding for local bus services, with respective cuts of 94% and 91%. The only travel area to have seen an increase in funding is Merseyside which bucks the regional trend.

Analysis published by the union federation this month revealed that council funding for key local services – including transport – have been slashed by £1.2bn in the North West since the turn of the decade.

Campaign for Better Transport research shows 47 local bus routes in the region have been lost or reduced this year. This is despite the fact that almost 60% of journeys on public transport in Britain are made on buses.

The TUC says that despite cuts to local services, private bus operators are still paying large sums to shareholders.

In 2017 more than £17 million was paid out to shareholders of the five biggest private bus companies operating in the region.

TUC regional secretary, Jay McKenna said: “Local bus services are a vital lifeline for communities across the North West. People use them to get to work, see friends and family and take trips to town, but cuts to local government have led to thousands of bus routes being cancelled or reduced.

“If that wasn’t bad enough, private bus operators have continued to pay out dividends as services have been cut back.

“Working families deserve a bus network fit for the 21st century. Not one run on the cheap for the benefit of shareholders.”

Gary Nolan, chief executive of OneBus, which represents the majority of bus operators in Greater Manchester, was contacted for comment.