Single bus fares to be capped at £3 until the end of 2025, ensuring services remain affordable and supporting travel in rural areas and towns

Fare cap extension comes on top of nearly £925 million invested to deliver high quality services and protect vital bus routes up and down the country

Part of Government plans to end the postcode lottery of bus services, ensure access to opportunities and deliver growth

Millions of people will enjoy better bus services as the Government invests over £1 billion to protect vital bus routes and cap bus fares, particularly in rural communities and towns where there is a heavy reliance on buses.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed on Monday 28 October that bus travel will be kept down at £3 at the Budget for an additional year - saving up to 80% on some routes.

Under the inherited plans, funding for the current cap on bus fares had been due to expire at the end of 2024, with fares set to soar by as much as £13 for the Leeds to Scarborough route, unless the Government intervened to keep fares down.

The Government’s announcement will ensure fares remain affordable from 1st January 2025 and prevent a financial cliff-edge for bus operators that would have seen vital services put at risk across the country.

The £3 maximum single fare cap will keep bus travel affordable while ensuring the cap is fair to taxpayers, helping millions of people access better opportunities, and protect vital bus routes, particularly lifeline services in rural communities.

The cap means no single bus fare on routes included in the scheme will exceed £3, and routes where fares are less than £3 will only be allowed to increase by inflation in the normal way. Local authorities and Metro Mayors can also fund their own schemes to keep fares down, as is already the case in London, West Yorkshire and Manchester.