The Scottish government will provide bus operators with additional financial assistance to maintain essential services during the coronavirus outbreak.
The intention is to maintain concessionary travel reimbursement and Bus Service Operator Grant payments at the levels forecasted prior to the impact of COVID-19, where the Scottish government claims it would typically spend over £260m every year in supporting bus services.
Operators will receive additional payments matching the difference between actual payments and those previously forecasted levels.
This arrangement will be kept under review.
Cabinet secretary for transport, infrastructure and connectivity, Michael Matheson, said: “We are doing everything we can to support our bus industry in this unprecedented time.
“This action will enable critical services to continue to run, helping our key workers get to their work and to carry out their essential roles across the country.
“I also recognise that our bus industry will be vital to our economic recovery – and we must take steps to protect that recovery now.”
Figures from Transport Scotland show that concessionary bus journeys in particular had dropped by 81% in the last two weeks and Matheson said he would expect this to fall even further in light of the latest guidance.
“Over the next few months we will effectively make up the difference in concessionary travel and Bus Service Operator Grant payments,” continued Matheson.
“We will allow operators to access the £260m that we spend every year on supporting bus services, irrespective of the decline in passengers.
“This will help protect the industry, support our key workers and ultimately assist the nationwide response to the COVID-19 outbreak.”
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