Dorset secures £12m bus funding - but more needed for full service improvements

Dorset Council has secured £12m in multi-year bus funding from Government to improve services and stops across the county from 2026/27 to 2028/29.

While this is a welcome boost, it falls short of what’s needed to deliver consistent hourly routes and full Saturday timetables.

Over the next three years, £6.8m in revenue funding will help Dorset Council and local operators make targeted upgrades, such as restoring some Saturday services and improving frequencies where demand is strongest. £5.2m in capital funding will pay for better bus stops and real-time information, with capital support continuing to 2029/30.

These improvements will still make a difference for residents who rely on buses for essential journeys, even if they cannot match the scale of investment seen elsewhere.

However, Dorset’s allocation is significantly lower than neighbouring and similar rural authorities. Cornwall will receive £30m and Somerset £22m, while Plymouth and Wiltshire also have higher shares.

This means Dorset cannot deliver the same level of service improvements seen elsewhere, and the council will continue pressing for a fairer long-term share.

Cllr Jon Andrews, Dorset Council’s Cabinet Member for Place Services, said:

“This funding helps us make practical improvements residents have asked for, such as restoring some Saturday services and upgrading stops. However, it’s clear Dorset needs a fairer long-term share to match our rural geography and travel needs. We’ll keep pressing for that while making the best use of what we have.”

Dorset Council will agree the delivery schedule with bus operators and our Enhanced Partnership, prioritising routes and locations where improvements make the biggest difference. We will publish timetables and infrastructure works once confirmed, with updates provided on our bus improvement pages.