Andy Burnham warns bus services could get WORSE as Greater Manchester only receives half the funding

Andy Burnham has warned that bus services could get worse before they get better as Greater Manchester gets half of the funding for running costs requested.

The Labour mayor welcomed the news that the city-region would receive £1.07bn for one-off infrastructure costs to improve the transport network. This funding will help pay for a new transport interchange in Bury, a new train station in Golborne and new zero emission buses, bus stops and road repairs.

Greater Manchester will also get £94.8m for ongoing costs to run the bus network and a one-off £20.5m in emergency funding for Metrolink services. However, the £94.8m for the Bus Service Improvement Plan is half of what is needed to guarantee the £1.50 hopper fares, 70 new routes with 10-minute-services and ‘24 hour services’ on up to 20 routes previously proposed.

READ MORE: More than £1bn given to Greater Manchester to boost transport network

Mr Burnham also said there could soon be fewer bus services running in the city-region as further details of the Covid recovery funding are yet to be confirmed. He said: "Bus services could get worse before they get better because if the funding's not there to help the bus system recover from the pandemic, we could see loss of services or loss of frequency and that will mean that the foundations upon which the improved services are being built are going to get shakier and not the solid foundation that we would want."

Responding to the funding announcement today (April 4), Mr Burnham revealed the new regulated bus system will launch in Wigan and Bolton on September 17, 2023 and that at least 50 new zero emission buses will be introduced then. It comes after a judge ruled in favour of Mr Burnham bringing buses back under public