Cost of living win in Mayor's battle for West Yorkshire's bus network

Ministers have conceded to demands from Northern Mayors to extend the Bus Recovery Grant for six months to help protect passengers during the cost of living crisis.

Local bus operators had said that if the grant ended as planned at the start of October they would withdraw services affecting up to 100 routes, around 11% of West Yorkshire’s bus network and one-sixth of the routes.

Mayor Brabin has been clear with operators that they must not continue with any planned cuts to services following this commitment of an extra six months of funding to protect bus routes until March 2023.

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said:

“We’ve been clear that government inaction would have decimated vital bus services and pushed people onto more expensive forms of transport, such as taxis, during the cost of living crisis - a time they can afford it least.

"Now I am cracking on with rolling out cheaper bus fares across the region next month, including a £2 cap on journeys – to help ease the burden on household budgets.”