Billion crisis for public transport is not enough



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The Minister for Infrastructure, Tomas Eneroth (S), is presenting a government grant of SEK 3 billion for public transport together with Deputy Prime Minister Isabella Lövin (MP).

Photo: Ali Lorestani / TT

The Minister for Infrastructure, Tomas Eneroth (S), is presenting a government grant of SEK 3 billion for public transport together with Deputy Prime Minister Isabella Lövin (MP).

Fine, but that is not enough.

This is how the bus industry and customers respond to the government’s billions of $ 3 billion to cover reduced ticket revenue on public transportation.

– A very positive message, gives room to breathe today. But that won’t be enough, says Helena Leufstadius, CEO of Swedish public transport.

The organization represents county transportation companies and regional public transportation authorities, those that order the traffic of bus and train companies.

The government proposes that public transport authorities receive 3 billion support to cover travel and reduced income during the virus crisis. It is a temporary and specific contribution.

Keep going

The government, despite much reduced travel, urged them to keep traffic running as before. It is necessary to avoid congestion and bring people to care and those who cannot work from home to come.

At the press conference on the support, neither the Minister of Infrastructure, Tomas Eneroth (S), nor the Minister of Environment and Climate, Isabella Lövin (MP), also Deputy Prime Minister, wanted to give information on how long they believe the duration will last. support for.

– From mid-March onwards, we have reduced ticket revenue by SEK 1.1 billion a month, says Helena Leufstadius.

However, after talks with the government, it is expected to come later.

“We may have reason to come back to this topic, we don’t really know when the pandemic will end,” Isabella Lövin said at the press conference.

Tomas Eneroth believes that the $ 3 billion can provide opportunities to plan continuous traffic on a normal scale.

– Provides public transportation reps with good planning conditions to maintain good traffic during the summer and even after the summer, says Eneroth.

He says the government has received signs that the loss of income could lead to savings and reductions.

“We don’t want to see that, we want to see a high volume of public transportation to reduce the spread of the infection,” he adds, and believes that the supplement ensures this.

Already done

Swedish Bussföretags CEO Anna Grönlund appreciates the support, but says that in practice money has already been spent on reduced income.

– Then the money runs out even before they arrive, says Grönlund.

– More will be needed in the future. If the regions do not have to think about whether they need to reduce traffic and both public transport companies and commuters will suffer, it continues.

Therefore, you would like to see that private bus companies can request emergency assistance directly.

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