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Passengers are being encouraged to Get Around for 拢2 by bus from January to March next year, with bus operators launching a campaign to promote the government fare cap scheme today (19 December 2022).

The scheme will help families, commuters and other passengers save money this winter, backed by 拢60 million of government investment to cap single tickets at 拢2 from 1 January to 31 March 2023 across England, outside of London.

With the average single local bus ticket costing 拢2.80, passengers will save almost a third of the ticket price per journey. In some rural areas a single ticket can cost over 拢5.

The scheme seeks to get more commuters on buses and helps to reduce emissions and congestion by taking an estimated 2 million cars off the roads.

Today, the government has confirmed over 130 bus operators, such as National Express and Stagecoach, managing routes from the north to the south of England will charge no more than 拢2 for their single tickets, helping passengers with travel costs for education, work and medical appointments as they face pressures from the rising cost of living.

Buses Minister Richard Holden said:

Brits love buses. They鈥檙e the most popular form of public transport in England,聽making up half of all journeys. So we鈥檙e investing 拢60 million to cap single bus fares at 拢2 to help families, students and commuters and help get people back on the bus.

The scheme will also take 2 million car journeys off the road and it鈥檚 fantastic to see so many bus operators signing up. So, if you鈥檙e in Carlisle or Weston-Super-Mare, Birmingham or Doncaster, make sure you hop on the bus and 鈥楪et Around for 拢2鈥� between 1 January and 31 March.

Bus fares vary across different parts of the country and between bus operators, and the cap is an important step in ensuring passengers across the country are getting a fair deal.

The scheme forms part of the government鈥檚 campaign, as the new cap can deliver real savings for those most affected by the rising cost of living.

The bus fare cap will also help the bus industry continue its recovery from the pandemic by encouraging greater bus use.

This initiative builds on the allocation of more than 拢2 billion to support bus services in England through the pandemic and a commitment to fund improved services, new bus priority measures and new electric or hydrogen buses as part of Bus Back Better, the ambitious national bus strategy, published last year.

Tom Stables, CEO of National Express UK, said:

More people using buses is good for the economy, environment and wider society. We know that great value, low fares encourage people to switch to the bus so are proud to join this scheme. And even better, we鈥檙e also freezing child fares at 拢1. Bus travel is simple, cheap and easy and there鈥檚 never been a better time to get onboard.

Elsewhere, a bus fares pilot scheme, backed by 拢23.5 million of government funding, launched in Cornwall this April has already seen a significant increase in passenger numbers.

Working alongside the 鈥楢ny Ticket Any Bus鈥� campaign, the fares pilot, running over 4 years, includes a 拢2.50 day ticket within towns or a 拢5 day ticket across all of Cornwall, which is valid across different bus operators.

Ensuring the public can access affordable bus fares will encourage more people to choose buses for local journeys, which in turn will help to reduce carbon emissions as the country moves towards聽our Net Zero targets.

Graham Vidler, Chief Executive of the Confederation of Passenger Transport said:

We look forward to welcoming more customers on board when the 拢2 fare cap in England starts in January, as it complements great value fares already in place that make taking the bus more attractive and environmentally friendly this winter.

Travelling for 拢2 on the bus both helps customers facing rising cost challenges and enables them to try a new travel option to get to work, education, public services, leisure or see loved ones.

The government will continue to work closely with bus operators and local authorities and consider future support to help passengers continue accessing reliable and affordable bus services after March.