Newcastle MP slams Government’s London-centric approach to public transport improvement

A Newcastle MP has slammed the Government's London-centric approach to public transport improvements.

Chi Onwurah, MP for Newcastle Central, stated that Government plans mean public transport services in the North East are only being improved to be 'less worse' than those in London.

Speaking in Parliament, the MP asked the Minister to fund the Bus Service Improvement Plan proposed by Transport North East and the region's leaders.

The plan includes a range of measures to reduce fares, increase frequencies, build new bus lanes, and a range of other major service quality improvements.

The government recently announced an extension of pandemic related support equivalent to £150M, but as yet no details have been provided on how this funding will break down by region or operator.

Operators in Newcastle will be continuing with the cuts to services they recently announced, with further cuts looming next year.

Ms Onwurah said: "The Levelling up White Paper promises to bring local public transport connectivity closer to London standards by 2030, so not as good as London’s, just less worse than London’s, and not for another eight years.

"Newcastle needs affordable and accessible bus services now, not the cuts we are actually seeing.

“Levelling up means improving transport connectivity.

"The North East has a plan for buses waiting to go, it just needs the government to sign it off and to let our region's transport leaders get on with improving services for everyone.”