Support package announced for bus services

The Mayor of Sheffield City Region has announced a package of support to keep South Yorkshire’s buses on the road.

Responding to a Government statement about funding for bus services during the Coronavirus pandemic, Dan Jarvis said he was working with Ministers, South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE) and transport operators to ensure South Yorkshire has the resources to keep essential public transport services running.

Jarvis said: “In South Yorkshire, I have already taken action to maintain and extend concessionary payments and agreed a substantial package of support for operators.

“This means essential services will keep running for our NHS staff, key workers and members of the public for the next four months.

“It will also provide certainty to our transport system so normal services can resume when travel restrictions are lifted.

“The investment from Government will help ease the strain the crisis is placing on already-stretched funding for buses in the region.

“However, we need to look at transport issues in the round and the Government must now go further to ensure all of South Yorkshire’s public transport network keeps functioning.

“This means guaranteeing funding for Supertram, which has a crucial role to play in keeping key workers moving during this critical time, particularly to Sheffield’s hospitals.”