UK government allocates £18 million for Greater Manchester’s transport

Credit: Transport for Greater Manchester

Transport Secretary Mark Harper has announced a new funding settlement of £18 million to protect local transport services in Greater Manchester. The funding, provided to Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), aims to ensure the stability and reliability of the transport network while considering value for money for taxpayers.

This additional funding, which will last until the end of March 2024, is part of the UK government’s ongoing support for the region’s transport network during the pandemic. Since March 2020, over £400 million has been provided for various transport schemes in the region. In addition, Greater Manchester has received £1.07 billion through City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements (CRSTS), £39.7 million for active travel schemes and £19.87 million through Levelling Up Funds for transport.

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Transport Secretary Mark Harper said: “Since the start of the pandemic, the government has repeatedly stepped up to support Greater Manchester and the Bee Network, providing over £400 million to protect and improve services. We’re determined to see a thriving local transport network in this great city and, while our support package must be fair to taxpayers, I am confident this additional extraordinary settlement will help operators to recover from the pandemic while Transport for Greater Manchester follows through on its promise to reach financial sustainability.”

TfGM faces unique circumstances, primarily related to the funding structure of Metrolink and the local funding commitment to the Greater Manchester Transport Fund (GMTF). The agency aims to use this funding to address challenges such as declining bus and tram usage, inflation costs, historic debts, additional revenue risks from bus franchising and the pursuit of long-term financial sustainability.