Millions across England are encouraged to ‘Hop Around for £2′ this spring as the £2 bus fare cap is extended to 30 June.
Thanks to £75 million of extra Government investment, the fare cap means passengers can save on single bus tickets, helping them travel more affordably to education, work and medical appointments.
Extended from today (1 April), the offer will apply to more than 5,000 routes in England from over 140 operators, as the Government continues to help households through this difficult economic period, while levelling up transport and growing the economy.
With the average single local bus ticket costing £2.80, passengers can save almost a third of the ticket price and over 75% on some of the longest trips.
The scheme, which began in January this year, has already seen an uptick in passenger numbers. This extension will continue to encourage greater bus use and is expected to take up to four million cars off the road, supporting ambitions for greener journeys by minimising pollution and tackling congestion across the country.
A key part of the Government’s Help for Households campaign, the fare cap is helping to deliver real savings for people most affected by the rising cost of living.
Some of the biggest savings on the longest routes up and down the country thanks to the fare cap include:
£12.50 from Lancaster to Kendall, a saving of 86% from £14.50
£9.20 from Plymouth to Exeter, a saving of 82% from £11.20
£6 from Newcastle and Middlesbrough, a saving of 75% from £8
£6.50 from Hull to York, a saving of 76% from £8.50
£13 from Leeds to Scarborough, a saving of 87% from £15
Roads Minister Richard Holden said:
“Bus travel should be accessible and affordable for everyone. We know that people are struggling with rising costs, which is why we’re extending the £2 bus fare cap and continuing to put money back into passengers’ pockets.
“This will help to ensure people can get around easily, no matter where they live – connecting them with work, education, doctors’ appointments as well as friends and families – in turn strengthening communities and growing local economies.”
This measure builds on more than £2 billion already invested to protect buses in England since the pandemic and a further £1 billion for Bus Service Improvement Plans (BSIP) to improve services and keep fares down as part of the National Bus Strategy, published in 2021.
Bus fare caps are also available across major cities and local authorities, such as Greater Manchester and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, thanks to the £1 billion in BSIP funding.
