Swindon MPs welcome £415,830 investment to protect bus services in Swindon

North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson and South Swindon MP Sir Robert Buckland have welcomed a Government investment of £415,830 in bus services across the town.

They say the funding means people across the Swindon area have benefitted from a total of £831,660 in funding from the Government to support bus services since 2022. 

The investment comes from the £80m Bus Services Improvement Plan 2024-25 fund, of which there have been three rounds – building on the £80 million invested in 2023-24 and £1 billion invested in 2022. 

It comes on top of a further £140m announced in May from the extension of the Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG), taking the total to continue supporting and protecting bus services across England to £300m into 2025.

Mr Tomlinson said: “Many people rely on bus services across Swindon to get to work or to see family and friends.

“That is why the Conservative Government have invested £3.5 billion in bus services since 2020, including an extra £415,830 for services across the Swindon area.”

Sir Robert added: “This funding will protect essential services and enhance transport connections, supporting people to get where they need to go with public transport they can rely on.”

To help people with the cost of living and save on everyday travel costs, the Government have also invested £200m to extend the bus fare cap, with single bus tickets capped at £2 outside London until the end of October and then at £2.50 until 30 November 2024.

The Government says the £2 fare cap has cut travel costs, particularly in rural areas, where buses are crucial for so many people to get around, with the average fare dropping by 10.8 percent in rural and non-metropolitan parts of England.

The measures take total Government support to protect and improve bus services while keeping fares low to £3.5 billion since 2020.

Roads Minister Richard Holden MP said: “Buses are the most popular form of public transport and millions of people across the country from the Tees Valley to Torbay rely on their local service to get to work, attend medical appointments and see loved ones.

“We are providing a further £80m to help local authorities improve and protect essential services, delivering for local communities across the country by enhancing transport connections, supporting passengers and growing the economy.”