The government has backed a campaign allowing bus operators outside the capital to slash their fare prices to £2 between January 1 and March 31, 2023. The campaign has been created to encourage people to start using more public transport. Although Transport for London sees millions of passengers daily, outside of London, particularly in rural areas, bus routes are infrequent, and most people opt for cars. Furthermore, bus fares in England cost £2.80 on average but can be up to £10 for a return ticket in remote locations.

The Department for Transport has given £60m to fund the scheme, stating that it will both significantly reduce emissions by getting cars off the roads and save passengers almost a third on bus travel on average. During the pandemic, the transport industry was one of the hardest hit sectors, and it is hoped that the new campaign will help it recover.  Some of the biggest bus operators participating in the scheme include Stagecoach and National Express, which operate routes throughout the country.

Fares have been increasing

A £2 bus fare cap is already in place in areas including Greater Manchester, Liverpool and West Yorkshire; however, single bus fares in London already stand at just £1.65. The scheme was originally announced back in September 2022 after the Department for Transport noted that fares have been consistently increasing since 2018. Buses are the most popular form of public transport in England; however, the current cost of living crisis also means people are taking measures to avoid paying unnecessary fares. On top of this, fewer passengers are using services since shifting to working from home following Covid-19.

To take advantage of the scheme, passengers do not need to make any changes, as fares will be automatically adjusted on the relevant bus services. However, all fares currently under the £2 threshold will remain the same price. Although the fare cap will only run until the end of March, there are already calls for the government to extend it indefinitely to help people save money. Many people feel that although it is useful, the scheme is incomparable to the generous changes introduced in other European countries, such as Germany’s monthly €49 ticket and Spain’s introduction of free train travel.