| It's been a year since Boris Johnson launched plans to get more people travelling by bus. His "Bus Back Better" strategy set out plans to "build back greener, minimising pollution and tackling the congestion that clogs up our towns and cities".
But bus services are actually being cut, because passenger numbers fell during lockdown - and still haven't recovered.
Transport for the West Midlands says motorway traffic is now at pre-Covid levels, or sometimes higher, while passengers are still staying away from public transport.
It's even caused some bus operators to cease operating entirely.
First Bus, which operates buses in Leicester and elsewhere, has raised similar concerns.
Buses are seen as crucial in the battle against air pollution, and as a means of providing opportunities to all people. Some people are simply unable to work without reliable public transport to take them to the factory or office.
But services won't improve without revenue from passengers, and if passengers stay away it can lead to a vicious circle, as lack of investment in the bus network makes it increasingly unnattractive for travellers.
Transport for the West Midlands is part of the West Midlands Combined Authority, which is run by Birmingham, Solihull, Walsall, Sandwell, Wolverhampton, Dudley, Coventry and Solihull councils. In a submission to MPs, it warned: "The pandemic has meant there are a greater number of bus services that are no longer commercially viable."
It said recent cuts to services include: - 28 services changed at the end of August 2021 affecting frequencies, routes, evening and Sunday services, and loss of service for some communities.
- Frequency reductions on core routes at the end of October 2021 affecting bus services serving 60% of passengers across the region.
- Reduction or deregistration of 8 services in December 2021
Transport for the West Midlands warned: "The impact of pandemic has reduced the number of commercial operators, making procuring socially necessary bus services more expensive and harder to procure over a prolonged period ... to date the West Midlands has two commercial bus operators go out of business and a further two fall out of the tendered bus market."
It wants the Government to continue providing substantial subsidies for public transport for the forseeable future.
The Department for Transport distributed around £2 billion to struggling public transport operators nationwide over the past two years, but Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced what he called "the final COVID-19 support package the government will provide to the sector" on March 1.
Transport for the West Midlands insisted: "Sustained public support grants have been vital during the pandemic in keeping them running, particularly for many of those who rely on them. With patronage on all public transport modes within the West Midlands still seeing below pre-Covid numbers, it is likely that subsidies will be necessary for the bus network in the region to be sustained."
It also called for the Combined Authority to have control of the Bus Service Operators Grant, which is paid by the Department for Transport to operators.
Meanwhile, FirstBus called on the Government to launch a campaign to encourage passengers back onto buses.
It warned: "We have not yet seen a public campaign to encourage people back onto buses, as we have seen in the rail sector.
"Last summer, the Rail Delivery Group with the support of government brought forward a national marketing campaign across all major broadcast, digital and out-of-home channels to encourage people to return to the rail sector.
"Preliminary results show that the campaign was effective, with 15% of people buying a ticket after seeing the campaign ... government should consider launching a similar, targeted campaign to encourage people back on to buses in partnership with industry."
The comments were made in evidence submitted to the House of Commons Transport Committee. |
