North East Bus Improvement Plan approved

Transport leaders have approved a Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) for the North East, forming a new £804m bid to government.

The North East Joint Transport Committee hope the plan will transform bus services across the North East and improve the network for millions of passengers as well as helping the environment.

The BSIP includes a range of initiatives such as financial support to maintain the bus network in light of Covid-19 shortfalls, region-wide affordable fairs for multi-modal travel on all bus, Metro and ferry services, and trial of ‘kids go free’ for under 12s on bus services during Summer 2022.

The Committee, including council leaders and mayors, released a joint statement about the plan.

They said: ‘Our region can achieve great things when we work together and we are delighted to unveil our region’s Bus Service Improvement Plan which will be transformative for local people. Local authorities have worked in partnership with local bus operators to produce an ambitious plan for our bus services – an £804 million funding bid which we hope will enable us to deliver transformational change for local people. We want to deliver a truly modern, sustainable public transport system that we can all be proud of.

‘Buses are hugely important to our region and our people. For many, the bus is their main mode of transport and it is imperative that we increase use of green, sustainable transport in order to avoid a car-dominated recovery from the pandemic. 

‘The pandemic has put our public transport network under strain and, as a direct result of Covid-19, passenger levels are below where they should be. The North East needs the major investment set out in the BSIP from Government to underpin a dramatic res-set of our bus network if we are to deliver on our climate change and economic goals. 

‘We are determined to make it easier for people to use the bus more often when they can and we must lower carbon emissions region-wide. By delivering the plans outlined in the BSIP, we will improve our air quality and encourage more people to travel in a sustainable way. We are united in our goal to reform our region’s bus network and make bus travel more attractive, customer friendly, reliable and affordable. To do this, we must be bold and address the balance of our network. Some of our infrastructure and policies will need to pivot to embrace this change and with that will come greater use of public transport. We hope the Government sees our BSIP as a wonderful opportunity to invest in the North East.’

Photo supplied by Newcastle City Council