Ending the Network Support Grant Plus (NSG+) revenue support mechanism for bus services in Scotland after 9 October will cause “inevitable” timetable cuts and increases to fares, one operator there has said.

NSG+ has supported the recovery of Scotland’s bus network. Upon its cessation, operators will revert to standard NSG payments, which represent a significant reduction from NSG+. The latter stream was first intended to end earlier this year, but it was extended to October in recognition that rebuilding work was still underway.

An end to NSG+ looks certain after operators previously in receipt of NSG+ were notified of new NSG payments for the period that starts on 10 October. When NSG+ was extended to October, the bus industry in Scotland warned that “difficult decisions” would be necessary for services beyond its end date.

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