Published: Wednesday, 25 March 2020

Oxford City Council is calling for the Government to provide support for bus companies so that doctors, nurses and other key workers can get to work.

On Monday the Department for Transport provided additional support for train companies, temporarily suspending normal train franchise agreements and transferring all revenue and cost risk to the Government.

The Government said this would “ensure that trains necessary for key workers and essential travel continue to operate”, adding that railways have already seen up to a 70% drop in passenger numbers as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

But no such support has yet been provided to bus companies – and Oxfordshire’s providers have seen up to a 90% reduction in passenger numbers and are already operating at a loss.

The only Government support applicable to the bus companies is to furlough staff, with the Government then picking up 80% of the wage bill during the furlough. This would mean furloughing bus drivers, which would significantly impact services.

Oxford Bus Company has said there is no level of service it can keep running that will cover its costs.

Buses are a crucial way for key workers – particularly doctors and nurses in Oxford – to commute into work, so a bus company going under could have a significant impact on the county’s NHS.

The bus companies operating in Oxford are Oxford Bus Company, Stagecoach Oxfordshire and Thames Travel.

“Oxford’s bus companies provide a vital service to enable NHS doctors and nurses to get to work. Many of these key workers do not have cars.

“If the Government allows Oxford’s bus companies to go under, many hundreds of key workers will no longer be able to get to work. This will have a profound impact on the NHS in the city.

“It is crucial that the Government provides urgent support for Oxford’s bus companies – something similar to that already provided to rail companies – to ensure this does not happen.”

Councillor Susan Brown, Leader of Oxford City Council

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