news

Go-Ahead carries 10 million passengers since launch of £2 bus fare cap

Posted: 24 March 2023 | | No comments yet

The UK government’s £2 fare capping scheme has boosted Go-Ahead’s regional bus companies, allowing over 10 million passengers to take advantage of its services, which has resulted in an extension of the scheme until the end of June 2023.

Millions in England enjoy cheaper fares thanks to UK government fare cap

Credit: Go-Ahead

Go-Ahead has announced that its bus companies have carried 10 million passengers at the nationwide promotional fare of £2 since the UK government had began funding the scheme at the start of 2023. As of 23 March 2023, Go-Ahead bus companies outside London have sold more than £20 million worth of tickets.

The initiative, which is part of the government’s Help for Households initiative, has made bus travel more affordable on all of Go-Ahead’s regional bus companies – which have networks stretching from Cornwall to Northumberland.

The biggest seller of discount tickets in the Go-Ahead network is Brighton & Hove Buses and Metrobus, where more than 2.5 million passengers have travelled using the £2 fare.

On certain routes, passenger numbers have jumped significantly. For example, a route in Buckinghamshire operated by Go-Ahead’s Carousel Buses has seen a 130% uplift in passenger numbers since the beginning of 2023. Route 102, which runs from Heathrow Airport to High Wycombe via Beaconsfield and Gerrard’s Cross, has proven particularly popular under the scheme.

Initially planned to run until the end of March 2023, the £2 adult single fares offer across England has been extended by three months to the end of June 2023, backed with an additional £75 million of funding from the Department for Transport (DfT).

Two million Go-Ahead passengers take advantage of £2 fare cap

Martin Dean, Go-Ahead’s Managing Director, Regional Bus, said: “The £2 fare cap is an excellent initiative to promote bus travel, and it is great news that it will continue. This valuable funding will safeguard hundreds of routes which are commercially challenging but important for local people. Buses provide vital connections for local communities across the United Kingdom and we’re pleased to be working with the Department for Transport to make them as affordable as possible.”

Participating Go-Ahead bus companies include:

  • Brighton & Hove Buses and Metrobus
  • Go South Coast – Bluestar, Morebus, Southern Vectis, Salisbury Reds and Swindon’s Bus Company
  • Go South West – Plymouth Citybus, Go Cornwall, Go Devon and Dartline
  • The Oxford Bus Company – including Carousel Buses and Thames Travel
  • Go East Anglia – Konectbus, Hedingham and Chambers
  • East Yorkshire Buses
  • Go North East

In order to further encourage bus use, Go-Ahead is now offering passengers the chance to enter a prize competition by submitting a short video of their £2 bus, journey, route, or destination, with an Apple iPhone for the winner. Videos of up to 1 minute 30 seconds are eligible.