Bus passengers have been warned to brace for more timetables to be slashed over the coming months.
After Arriva, one of the North East’s big three bus operators, revealed plans to cut services in several parts of the region this week, there are major concerns that there could soon be more bad news for people who rely on public transport. While the Government recently committed to giving another £140m to bus companies to help “protect essential services across England” until 2025, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) understands that firms are still waiting to hear exactly how much support they will get from that pot.
That uncertainty and the fact that passenger levels remain below pre-pandemic rates means local leaders are expecting some services to be reduced or cancelled entirely, having previously feared that up to 20% of the North East’s remaining bus network could be axed. It emerged earlier this week that six Arriva routes running between Newcastle, North Tyneside, and south east Northumberland are at risk of being culled, having been deemed unsustainable following the closure of the operator’s Jesmond depot last year.
