A NEW investment in the country's bus infrastructure has been welcomed by local transport bosses.

Chancellor Sajid Javid today announced plans for an "infrastructure revolution" that would include a a £220 million fund for buses.

It includes £50 million available to develop one or two all-electric bus towns or cities.

Councils will be able to team up with bus companies to create low-fare, high-frequency "superbus" networks, where local authorities will invest in bus lanes and in exchange the operator will run more services - Cornwall will pilot the first scheme next year.

The Government will also set a goal for contactless payments to be made available on every city bus.

Some £20 million will go on trials of "on demand" bus services and £30 million will improve existing services or replace routes that had been cut.

Responding to the chancellors bus pledges, Councillor Kim Groves Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Transport Committee and the West Yorkshire Bus Alliance, said: “Each week, people in West Yorkshire make over 3.5 million journeys on local bus services, making them the biggest mover of people in our region, so I am pleased that the key role that buses play in supporting our economy is being recognised.

“Through the West Yorkshire Bus Alliance, the Combined Authority and bus operators are working together to reverse the decline in passenger numbers and we are working to ensure bus travel is affordable to everyone and that people can get to where they want to actually go.

“While this investment is welcomed the government needs to come forward with longer term funding to provide a comprehensive, national approach to bus services that can deliver joined-up services.”