Bus passengers across Scotland are soon set to benefit from a 55 million GBP investment in infrastructure that will seek to improve the reliability, accessibility and overall efficiency of bus services across the country.
The funding was confirmed by Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport Stephen Flynn ahead of the Better Buses Legislation Stakeholder Roundtable, which will bring together representatives from bus operators, local transport authorities and passenger groups to discuss proposals for new legislation to enhance bus services throughout Scotland.
Undertaking engagement on this new legislation was a commitment to deliver within the first 100 days of a new Scottish Government.
The Bus Infrastructure Fund (BIF) will act as an investment source for the new developments, and will provide 55 million GBP worth of capital funding in 2026-27, an increase from the previous 20 million GBP in 2025-26. This money will be used to support projects that make bus travel more attractive by making them easier to use, faster and more reliable.
The investment as a whole aims to support the Scottish Government’s ambitions to increase bus use, encourage a shift away from private cars and create a more sustainable, inclusive, safe and accessible transport system.
Mr Flynn said:The public rightly want and expect their buses to run on time which is why the Scottish Government is investing £55 million in the infrastructure to help make that happen. This investment will help local authorities deliver the bus priority measures, passenger facilities and wider improvements they believe are needed to make their local bus services more reliable.
And this is just the start of our ambitious plans for the sector – we want all journeys to be more affordable and for bus services in every community across Scotland to be better. That’s why I am bring the entire sector together – passengers, operators and transport authorities alike – to see how new legislation can help deliver on those shared aims.
The Bus Infrastructure Fund (BIF) is a capital grant fund that seeks to support investment in bus infrastructure to both improve services and encourage greater use of public transport. Funding in 2026-27 will total 55 million GBP, which will be comprised of 20 million GBP through Tier 1 and 35 million GBP through Tier 2.
Having been indicated through the Scottish Government Budget – this investment is now in the process of being provided to Local Authorities through the General Capital Grant, as well as to voluntary Bus Partnerships through grants.
