£2 bus fare cap extended.

The Transport Secretary has confirmed the £2 bus fare cap is to be extended by three months until June to help protect bus services.

With the average single local bus ticket costing £2.80 passengers can save almost a third of the ticket price. Bus operators that are continuing the £2 fare cap scheme will be confirmed in due course.

During the pandemic bus usage dropped as low as 10 per cent of the pre-pandemic level. However the Government’s existing £60 million investment to cap single bus fares has already shown signs of increased bus use. An independent survey of 1,000 people from passenger watchdog Transport Focus showed 7 per cent of people say they are using the bus more.

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP, Andrew Jones, said “I am pleased the Government is continuing to cap fares at £2 encouraging more people onto our bus services.

“Buses are a key service for many local communities as people rely on them for work, education, appointments and shopping. Public transport also plays a key role in achieving our net zero targets and I am keen to see continued work to encourage more people to swap their car for the bus. In particular, we need to get bus usage back to its pre-pandemic level to preserve those routes which are a lifeline for many.”