Ministers Urged to Extend £2 Bus Fare Cap Amid Rural Area Concerns

The UK government’s £2 bus fare cap has been hailed as a success since its introduction in January last year, but with its deadline for renewal looming, there are concerns that rural areas will be disproportionately affected if it is not extended.

Caption: A rural bus service.

According to Alison Edwards, director of policy and external relations at the Confederation of Passenger Transport, the cap has been vital in supporting young people’s access to education and jobs. Edwards emphasized that bus operators are working closely with the government to find a way to avoid a return to commercial fares, which would likely see prices skyrocket.

Transport Secretary Louise Haigh has stated that her officials are looking at various options for the fare cap, but the Labour government has stopped short of committing to extending it.

The Biggest Losers

Passengers travelling long distances in rural areas or between towns and cities will likely suffer the biggest fare rises if the cap is not extended.

When it introduced the policy, the Conservative government highlighted routes with some of the biggest per journey savings, including those between Leeds and Scarborough (£13), Lancaster and Kendal (£12.50), and Plymouth and Exeter (£9.20).

Caption: A city bus service.