Bus firms to get funding regardless of passenger numbers

The Scottish Government has pledged to pay bus companies the amount of funding projected in this year’s budget regardless of the number of passengers who use services. The cash pledge, announced by the First Minister yesterday, is intended to help support companies during the coronavirus outbreak.

Under the current agreement, Transport Scotland reimburses bus firms for travel under the concessionary scheme for over60s and disabled people. Nicola Sturgeon announced this year’s funding will not be based on the true amount of travel but projections made at the beginning of the year.

According to Transport Scotland, bus operators will be able to access the £260 million available to support the concessionary scheme and bus service operator grant payments.

The difference between projections and the amount that will actually be paid to bus operators over the next four months is expected be between £46m and £92m, Transport Scotland has said.

According to Ms Sturgeon, concessionary travel has dropped by more than 70 per cent since the beginning of the outbreak.

Transport secretary Michael Matheson said numbers have dropped 81 per cent in the last two weeks and are expected fall further after recent government advice.

Mr Matheson said: “This action will enable critical services to continue to run, helping our key workers get to their work and to carry out their essential roles across the country.”