Millions across England encouraged to make use of £2 bus fare cap

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Passengers across England are being encouraged to Get Around for £2 by bus from January to March 2023, following the launch of a campaign by bus operators to promote the UK government’s fare cap scheme on 19 December 2022.

The scheme will help families, commuters and other passengers save money this winter, backed by £60 million of government investment to cap single tickets at £2 from 1 January to 31 March 2023 across the country, outside of London.

With the average single local bus ticket costing £2.80 outside of London, this new scheme will help passengers save almost a third of the ticket price per journey. This will be especially beneficial in some rural areas where a single ticket can cost over £5.

The government has confirmed that over 130 bus operators, such as National Express and Stagecoach, that are managing routes from the north to the south of England will charge no more than £2 for their single tickets, helping passengers with travel costs for education, work and medical appointments, as they face pressures from the rising cost-of-living.

Buses Minister Richard Holden said: “Brits love buses. They’re the most popular form of public transport in England, making up half of all journeys. So we’re investing £60 million to cap single bus fares at £2 to help families, students and commuters and help get people back on the bus. The scheme will also take two million car journeys off the road and it’s fantastic to see so many bus operators signing up.”

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Public transit fares vary across different parts of the country and between bus operators, thus the cap is an important step in ensuring passengers across England are getting a fair deal.

Tom Stables, CEO of National Express UK, said: “More people using buses is good for the economy, environment and wider society. We know that great value, low fares encourage people to switch to the bus, so are proud to join this scheme. And even better, we’re also freezing child fares at £1. Bus travel is simple, cheap and easy and there’s never been a better time to get on-board.”

Elsewhere, a bus fares pilot scheme, backed by £23.5 million of government funding, had been launched in Cornwall in April 2022 and has already seen a significant increase in passenger numbers. Working alongside the ‘Any Ticket Any Bus’ campaign, the fares pilot, running over four years, includes a £2.50 day ticket within towns or a £5 day ticket across all of Cornwall, which is valid across different bus operators.

Graham Vidler, Chief Executive of the Confederation of Passenger Transport, said: “We look forward to welcoming more customers on-board when the £2 fare cap in England starts in January, as it complements great value fares already in place that make taking the bus more attractive and environmentally friendly this winter.”

The UK government will continue to work closely with bus operators and local authorities and consider future support to help passengers continue accessing reliable and affordable services after March 2023.