Fleetwood mentioned as Government announces £283m funding to keep bus and rail passengers safe

The Government is pumping £283 million into roads, railways, buses and trams to improve public safety and protect services, the Transport Secretary announced.
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Grant Shapps said the funding, divided into £254 million for buses and £29 million for trams and light rail, would increase both frequency and capacity of services while ensuring there is enough space on vehicles to allow for social distancing.

The money will be spent on making adjustments to vehicles, signage, deep cleaning and the provision of hand sanitiser.

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In addition, 3,400 people, including British Transport Police officers and Network Rail staff, have been deployed at stations to make sure passengers follow the social distancing guidance put in place.

Handout photo issued by 10 Downing Street of Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, during a media briefing in Downing Street, London, on coronavirus. Picture: Andrew Parsons/10 Downing Street/Crown CopyrightHandout photo issued by 10 Downing Street of Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, during a media briefing in Downing Street, London, on coronavirus. Picture: Andrew Parsons/10 Downing Street/Crown Copyright
Handout photo issued by 10 Downing Street of Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, during a media briefing in Downing Street, London, on coronavirus. Picture: Andrew Parsons/10 Downing Street/Crown Copyright

Light rail funding will also support services in Sheffield, Nottingham, Tyne and Wear, Manchester and the West Midlands.

A personalised information service has also been introduced to inform people about disruption and crowding on services.

It comes after the Department for Transport announced earlier this month that £225 million will go towards creating pop-up and permanent cycle lanes across England to encourage people to use bikes instead of public transport when necessary.

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Mr Shapps, who will lead the daily Downing Street press conference on Saturday afternoon, said: “To make sure people can travel safely when they need to, we are increasing capacity on buses and light rail, as well as helping local authorities fast-track plans to support cyclists and pedestrians, further reducing pressure on our transport network.

“These measures will help keep passengers safe now, but we must also prepare for what comes next.

“Strengthening vital road and railway connections, as well as encouraging cycling and walking, will be essential to our ambition to level up the country, secure a green legacy, and kickstart regional economies, as we build out of Covid-19 and look to the future.”

Mr Shapps added: "And we’re getting on with plans to reverse some of the so-called Beeching rail cuts too.

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"Dr Beeching wrote a report back in the 1960s which led to the closure of one-third of our railway network.

"2,363 stations, 5,000 miles of track identified for closure.

"Many of the places removed from the map never recovered.

"That report was perhaps the origin of the ‘left-behind town’.

"But we’re working to reverse Beeching.

"The process has already started in Blyth in the North East and Fleetwood in the North West…"

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Communities in the North West will benefit from more than £46.8 million in funding to increase light rail services, regenerate local economies and make roads safer for pedestrians and cyclists, the Government said.

Lancashire County Council will receive an Emergency Active Travel Grant of £3,501,000, while Blackpool Council, a unitary authority, is to get £520,000.