Bus services are being cut due to a “significant shortfall” of vehicles because more than a quarter are off the road owing to mechanical failure.

The Department of Public Transportation needs 88 buses to operate a full schedule but has 62 vehicles that are roadworthy — a shortfall of almost 30 per cent.

A DPT spokesperson said that several buses had been put out of commission recently after being damaged in accidents, which was exacerbating the problem.

The spokesperson could not say when the faulty vehicles would return to service but hoped that the fleet would be replenished by the start of the summer.

They added that 30 bus routes were cancelled yesterday because of the bus shortage.

The spokesperson said: “Buses are removed from service throughout a workday for various reasons, some more intensive than others, such as repairing accident damage, changing headlights, replacing tyres, repairing transmission failure, cleaning graffiti, and more.

“Recently, several buses have been removed from service due to accident damage, which has created a significant shortfall in the vehicles available.

“The buses that are currently being repaired will return to duty in due course. The department is diligently working to ensure that sufficient buses are functioning by the summer months to provide the level of service delivered at the beginning of the year.”

The spokesperson said that school runs were prioritised when services were cut on weekdays.

Updates on cancellations can be found here.