Next month, more than 130 bus companies outside of London will begin capping adult single tickets at £2 as part of a government-funded initiative to help passengers save money.
From 1 January to 31 March, National Express and Stagecoach will be among the companies to implement the cap in England.
According to the government, single local bus fares in England cost an average of $2.80 but can exceed $5 in rural areas.
After “years of skyrocketing fares,” Labour deemed it a “half measure.”
Manchester, Liverpool, and West Yorkshire, which all have Labour mayors, have already implemented £2 caps as part of longer-term initiatives.
The Department of Transport, which initially launched the initiative in September, stated that buses were the most common mode of public transportation in England, accounting for fifty percent of all trips.
It stated that the government would spend £60 million on the cap to “assist families, students, and commuters” while eliminating two million automobile trips.
According to the most recent government statistics, the number of persons traveling by bus has increased but is still significantly below pre-Covid levels.
During the same period, local bus fares in England increased by 4.2% in the three months leading up to 30 June, compared to the same period the previous year.
According to the government, the program will aid the bus industry’s rehabilitation while allowing passengers to save money.
In addition, it stated that the cap was “crucial” to ensure that passengers received a fair deal.
As part of the initiative, Go-Ahead announced in a statement on Monday that its UK bus operating businesses would cap rates at £2 per single travel beginning on January 1.
It was stated that a £2 single fare on one of its bus trips may carry you at least 40 kilometers.
The routes include the X10 between Newcastle and Middlesbrough, which costs £8, and the Regency Route between Brighton and Tunbridge Wells, which costs £6.20.
The Campaign for Better Transport, a non-profit organization, applauded the cap but advocated for its extension.
“Capping bus fares will help struggling households, reduce road congestion and carbon emissions, and breathe fresh life into declining bus services,” said spokesman Norman Baker.
For the benefit of our wallets, our economy, and the environment, it should be extended indefinitely, not for three months.
