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England has lost at least 1,500 bus routes since 2021, figures show
(www.theguardian.com)
This is the best summary I could come up with:
The latest report from the Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain showed that the number of local registrations fell from just over 12,000 in 2021 to fewer than 9,000 in 2023, although the DfT said many of the routes had been reclassified rather than lost altogether.
Campaigners and bus operators have urged the DfT to provide more long-term funding for buses to stem decline after a decade of cuts.
Labour research found that the West Midlands was the region hardest hit by the decline in services, having lost two-thirds of local routes since 2010.
Louise Haigh, the shadow transport secretary, said: “The staggering decline in local bus services under this government is nothing short of vandalism against our communities.
Vidler said longer-term investment in bus priority measures that free buses from congestion and speed up journeys would enable more routes to function.
A DfT spokesperson said the government had invested £3.5bn since 2020 to back bus services, adding: “Our recent £500m boost is capping fares until the end of November 2024 and protecting routes into 2025, helping people save money on travel and improving transport connections to grow the economy.”
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