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<p>The Government recognises the importance of public transport in rural areas.</p><p>
</p><p>All local authorities in England have powers to subsidise socially necessary
bus services. The Department provides £43 million per year to local authorities to
support this.</p><p> </p><p>The Bus Services Act 2017 provides tools for local authorities
to work more effectively with bus operators to improve bus services.</p><p> </p><p>A
number of projects from the £11.5 million Building Connections Fund will provide new
community transport links to support people at most risk of isolation.</p><p>On rail,
the Department’s Community Rail Development Strategy, published in Nov 2018, looks
for ways to make it easier for the rail industry and local community rail partnerships
to improve services and stations on local branch lines.</p>
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