Rescue plan is launched to save bus routes

A MULTI-MILLION pound rescue package to save “vital” bus routes in Gateshead, Sunderland, and South Tyneside has been unveiled.

Bus operator Go North East announced last month that it was planning cuts to dozens more routes across the region in July, after already slashing services in Newcastle and North Tyneside earlier in the year.

The company said it was “clear some services won’t recover to the point of being viable” after passenger numbers took a huge hit because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Tyne and Wear Metro operator Nexus has now confirmed that it will put up £4.3m to rescue some of the routes under threat.

However, there are warnings that the cash will not be enough to save every service and that there may be more cuts yet to come, with Arriva and Stagecoach still to announce their plans.

Gateshead Council leader Martin

Gannon said: “The bus network is something local people rely on every day and it is vital that services are available for them when they need them.

“Unfortunately bus ridership is still way below pre-pandemic levels and with government Covid-19 funding support due to end in October, the operators are making cuts in response. It is great news that Nexus is able to step in and make sure that communities stay connected.

“We knew this was coming when we set last year’s transport budget at the North East Joint Transport Committee, and so we took the very difficult decision to increase council contributions to make sure that Nexus had a fighting fund it could use to safeguard as many services as possible.

“I fear that there may be more difficult choices ahead for bus operators and local authorities, but we remain committed to making sure that people who rely on the bus can keep vital local connections.”

Nexus, which also spent £4.5m to rescue some services in Newcastle

Gateshead Bus and Metro interchange

and North Tyneside in March, said the latest intervention would “mitigate the worst effects” of the latest cutbacks, due to come into force on July 24.

The publicly-owned body also pledged to announce extra funding after a consultation with passengers.

It had been hoped that the decision to slash more commercial bus services would be put on hold until October, after the Government bowed to pressure to extend Covid emergency grant funding until then.

Huw Lewis, customer services director for Nexus, said: “The scale of the changes means we are not able to provide a like-for-like replacement to every route being cut, but we can do a lot to keep local people connected.

“The rescue package we have published is a first step as we are consulting on further measures we could take to protect and recast local services to best meet local needs.”

A full list of the bus services that are to be cut and Nexus’ response can be seen at our sister website chroniclelive.