Funding boost for Supertram to keep services running

Ministers have announced plans to hand £33 million in support to tram and light rail services in South Yorkshire, Manchester, Nottingham, Birmingham, Newcastle and Blackpool.

Operators including Supertram will receive emergency funding of up to £33 million over the next 11 weeks. The South Yorkshire share, handed to Sheffield City Region is set at £2,460,000.

Government has extended the monetary help for services in South Yorkshire in stages since the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns began around 12 months ago including £2.9 million back in August which lasted 12 weeks.

Ministers have now handed out £200 million in financial aid to tram services across the country since the pandemic began.

Funding comes alongside over £1 billion provided to support bus services across the country.

The funding aims to support operators as they continue to face reduced revenues caused by low passenger numbers and trying to make sure services remain viable in the future when the country prepares to ease lockdown restrictions.

Reports published during the tough first lockdown in 2020 showed some bus and tram services had 10 per cent of passenger numbers it usually had.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Steve Barclay said: “At the start of this pandemic, we promised to do everything we could to support people and businesses. That includes making sure our country’s vital infrastructure is running for people who rely on it – such as key workers and those travelling to schools.

“Today’s funding means thousands of people across the north of England and the Midlands can continue to travel on public transport when they need to, and that trams will be ready for when the country comes out of lockdown.”

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