A £2 bus fare cap has been extended by the government for a second time to ensure bus travel remains “accessible and affordable for everyone.”
The cap will remain for bus services outside London until October 31 after which it will increase to £2.50 until November 30 2024 before fares are reviewed, the Department for Transport (DfT) said.
Transport Secretary Mark Harper said the government will invest £200 million to extend the cap and a further £300 million to support bus services until 2025 – £160 million for local transport authorities to improve fares, services and infrastructure, and £140 million for operators to protect essential services across England.
The extension comes as part of Downing Street’s Help for Households initiative to support the public with the increased cost-of-living.
More than £3.5 billion has been invested into buses by the government since March 2020, according to the DfT.
People on lower incomes “who take nearly three times as many bus trips” than those on higher incomes will particularly benefit from the cap, according to the department.
Mr Harper said: “Taking the bus is the most popular form of public transport and millions of people rely on these vital services every day.
“That’s why we’re investing half a billion pounds to help people save money amid cost-of-living pressures and continue to level up transport in all parts of the country, doing our bit to help halve inflation and grow the economy.”