The Government has announced that the planned rise to the bus fare cap from £2 to £2.50 has been deferred, with fares remaining at £2 until 31st December 2024. This will take the total government investment in capping bus fares to nearly £600 million.
Transport Secretary, Mark Harper said: “Buses are the most popular form of public transport, which is why we’re continuing to back our buses with record high levels of funding – supporting vital bus services and offering affordable travel for passengers.”
Since the £2 bus fare cap was introduced across the UK on 1st January 2023, millions of passengers have benefitted from lower fares.
According to initial analysis from a recent report published by the Department for Transport (DfT), the scheme has helped encourage people to get back on the bus, with almost half of respondents saying the fare cap is the main reason they’re using the bus more.
Both Nottingham’s main bus operators, Trent Barton and Nottingham City Transport (NCT), have signed up to the extended scheme, with almost all services included in the £2 fare cap.
A notable exception is the Trent Barton Red Arrow service between Nottingham and Derby, which falls outside the criteria for the scheme. However, all the main routes serving Ruddington, the NCT 3 and 10, and the Kinchbus 9 (run by Trent Barton), are included.
For more information, please visit www.trentbarton.co.uk or www.nctx.co.uk.