Yesterday evening CPT’s Graham Vidler received a letter from Secretary of State for Transport, Grant Shapps, outlining steps the Government will take to support the bus and coach industry during the Covid-19 outbreak.
Ahead of the Chancellor’s announcement of further support for businesses affected by the Covid-19 outbreak bus and coach operators have called on the Government to provide emergency support to ensure networks continue to function and that that those who need to make essential journeys, like health service and emergency workers, can continue to do so.
The bus industry is doing all it can to support the health and wellbeing of its customers, colleagues and the general public at this time of crisis. We are playing our part in communicating the Government's public health advice to avoid unessential travel.
The Scottish Government will provide bus operators with additional financial assistance to maintain essential services. This is intended to offset the impact that reduced demand is having on the viability of local services for key workers and to protect the industry for the future.
Following the announcement in the Budget 2020 that West Yorkshire Combined Authority will be getting an elected mayor, CPT’s Northern & Yorkshire regional manager Andrew McGuinness calls for the positive relationships between local leaders and the bus industry to continue.