Non-Commercial Bus Services

Description

Due to the ongoing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on bus patronage, bus operators within
Torbay have been struggling to break even. Since the pandemic, Torbay Council has been
providing emergency financial support for 9 public bus routes for socially necessary bus
services. These bus routes have still not returned to commercial viability and without the
continued financial support will be at risk of being withdrawn with the associated
detrimental impact on access to employment, education, services, health, and well-being in
addition to Torbay’s climate emergency efforts.
Torbay Council is seeking Operators to at least retain the existing bus service network in
accordance with the Councils BSIP, but also to enhance it with improvements to service
levels, including operating to key locations which are not currently served. Our aim is to
improve the routes with increased frequency, additional services covering earlier and later
times and at weekends with modern, low floor, zero or low emission vehicles.