OXFORD BUS COMPANY AND THAMES TRAVEL WELCOME GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR CRITICAL BUS SERVICES

The Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel today welcomed the announcement from the Department for Transport confirming a government funding package to enable the continuation of vital bus services.

The package, which includes £167m of new funding nationally, will be available to bus operators for at least the next 12 weeks. Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel are liaising with Oxfordshire County Council to optimise the services provided to ensure the funding can be used to benefit key workers and other people using our services to make essential journeys.

Following government guidance to avoid non-essential travel, bus passenger numbers have fallen by over 90 per cent, meaning the financial support is crucial to cover the costs of providing essential services. In the absence of this funding there was a real danger that these services would have to be withdrawn.

Phil Southall, Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel Managing Director, said: “This is welcome news from the government and will enable the continuation of vital bus services. It provides some stability for us at a challenging time and is crucial to ensuring we can cover costs for essential services.

“We continue to play our role in the national effort to tackle COVID-19, by ensuring key workers can get to where they need to be. I would like to reiterate my thanks and appreciation for those colleagues working tirelessly in challenging circumstances to ensure these vital services keep running in all areas of our businesses.

“People in key roles such as NHS workers, emergency services and those in the food supply chain depend upon these services, and we have been liaising with local authorities and other stakeholders to ensure that timetables meet their needs.

“The funding package complements other measures we have taken as a business to give us the best chance of weathering the storm. We have stopped all non-essential activity and placed many colleagues on furlough.

“The health and wellbeing of our customers and colleagues continues to be our priority. We have extensive cleaning regimes and guidance is being provided to customers to maintain social distancing when travelling on our services.”