The head of a leading public transport company in the North East has warned that his sector will need financial support to help it recover from the long-term impacts of the pandemic and support the region’s economy.
Martijn Gilbert is managing director of Go North East - part of the wider Go-Ahead Group - and also chair of NEbus, the North East Bus Operators’ Association.
He said that public transport provides a “vital” role for the North East economy but has warned that, with passenger numbers at around 75% of pre-pandemic levels, many parts of the region’s bus network are loss making.