£2 bus fare cap to be extended to December 2024

The cap was introduced in January 2023 and has meant that most bus routes are priced at £2 for a single journey.

During the pandemic, bus usage dropped as low as 10% of pre-pandemic levels, and the government has provided financial support totalling more than £3.5 billion since March 2020.

With bus patronage still at around 85 to 90 per-cent of pre-coronavirus levels, there are a number of ongoing challenges for bus operators.

Maria Caulfield, Member of Parliament for Lewes, has welcomed the announcement that the £2 cap on bus fares has been extended to December 2024.

Caulfield said: “I welcome the news that the £2 bus fare cap is being extended, many constituents have told me that this has enabled them to use the buses more frequently than they were before as it makes it cost effective. This is particularly the case in the rural areas of the constituency were bus fares were previously up to £6.”

Transport Secretary, Mark Harper said: “Buses are the most popular form of public transport, which is why we are continuing to back our buses with record high levels of funding – supporting vital bus services and offering affordable travel for passengers.

"This increase in funding to deliver more reliable, frequent and affordable local bus services–and to extend the £2 bus fare cap–has only been possible with the redirected HS2 funding secured by this government making the right long-term decisions for a brighter future.”