Department of Transport in the UK reveals bus funding disbursements for the years 2025 and 2026
The UK Department for Transport (DfT) has announced a substantial investment of more than £1bn for better buses in the North and Midlands, as part of the funding allocations for bus operations in the financial year 2025/2026. This announcement, made in October 2023, marks a significant step towards improving public transportation in these regions.
However, the details of the funding allocations leave much to be desired. The funding does not specify how the money will be distributed among individual bus operators, nor does it provide any timeline for when the funds will be distributed. Moreover, it does not include any information about potential increases in bus capacity or fleet size, specifically for the North and Midlands.
The allocations also do not mention any specific initiatives or projects that will be funded, nor do they provide details about any potential changes in bus routes or schedules. It's also worth noting that the funding does not include details about funding for other modes of transportation.
Despite these uncertainties, the DfT has confirmed that the funding will make buses more frequent, reliable, and easier to use. This continues and expands the improvements started by the £1.2bn for Bus Service Improvement Plans (BSIPs) announced in 2022 and 2023.
Local Authorities across the UK will receive a total of £7m from the DfT funding to help keep bus fares down. The West Midlands Combined Authority will receive £11m as part of the DfT funding for bus operations. Greater Manchester will receive an additional £13m in devolved BSOG to protect existing services and support service delivery.
The West Midlands Combined Authority was also allocated a portion of the £670m package, enabling Local Transport Authorities to deliver their Bus Service Improvement Plans (BSIP) nationwide. However, the exact amount allocated to the West Midlands Combined Authority within this total is not explicitly detailed in the available data.
The London Transport Authority (LTA) will receive a total of £35m from the Local Authority Bus Service Operators Grant.
As the details of the funding allocations remain vague, it's unclear how these investments will translate into tangible improvements for bus users in the North and Midlands. Nonetheless, the announcement of such a substantial investment is a promising step towards improving public transportation in these regions.
Elsewhere, the transport sector is celebrating achievements and innovations in transport planning. The fourth annual CiTTi Awards will be held on 25 November 2025 at De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London. The event details and information about the CiTTi Awards can be found on the website www.cittiawards.co.uk.
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