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Tuesday, 31 March 2020

Financial Times

• Bus companies to be promised coronavirus bailout this weekUK operators seek aid after passenger numbers fall by almost 80%

The Herald

• Coronavirus in Scotland: Glasgow campaigners call for bus 'buy-out' amid pandemic fearsCAMPAIGNERS in Glasgow are calling on the Scottish Government to “buy out” – not “bail out” – bus operators.
• First Bus provide update to Glasgow customers with monthly passesFirst Glasgow has provided customers with an update for anyone who may have purchased a multi-weekly pass but are unable to travel.

The Telegraph

• Bus operators in line for bailoutBus companies are in line for a government bailout to help cope with an almost 80pc decline in passenger numbers due to the coronavirus crisis.

Belfast Telegraph

• Coronavirus: 'Dramatic reduction' in bus and train useInfrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon has said there has been a "dramatic reduction" in the number of people using bus and train services.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Coronavirus: Emergency support for the Scottish bus industryThe 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. The intention is to maintain concessionary travel reimbursement and Bus Service Operator Grant payments at the levels forecasted prior to the impact of COVID-19, where we would typically spend over £260 million every year in supporting bus services. Operators will receive additional payments matching the dif...

Other News Sources

• Welsh bus support hinges on free NHS travelCombined support of £69m for bus operator hardship fund   NHS staff will receive free travel on buses throughout Wales in return for hardship funding from the Welsh Government over the next three months. Transport for Wales will receive additional funding support and a hardship fund has been set up to help bus companies as passenger numbers have fallen by up to 90% as passengers follow the stay-at-home rules in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The combined support is worth up to £69m. Free travel is already available on Transport for Wales rail services. This support will give public...