Millions of bus passengers in England hit by painful increase in single fares
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Millions of bus passengers in England have been hit by an increase in single fares from £2 to £3. The Government increased the bus fare cap from New Year's Day for the first time since it was launched for most routes two years ago. It will remain at £3 until the end of 2025. The Department for Transport (DfT) said this will enable “potential savings of up to 80% on some routes”. Fares that would be below £3 without the cap - such as many in urban areas - are permitted to rise by no more than inflation.
Silviya Barrett, from lobby group Campaign for Better Transport, said: “This is a significant increase that will be a costly start to 2025 for many people. Buses are our most used form of public transport so they need to be affordable. The fare cap has proved popular with passengers and helped boost ridership, so the Government must now look for a long-term replacement for the scheme from next year to avoid any further rises.”.
After the increase in the cap was announced in Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ first Budget in October 2024, a Government source said maintaining an upper limit for bus fares was “hard fought for in the Budget process” and is largely aimed at helping passengers in rural areas. Analysis commissioned by the DfT found keeping the cap at £2 was “not financially sustainable for the taxpayer” and “offered poor value for money”, the source added.
Local transport authorities have the power to keep the cap lower in their areas if they subsidise it themselves, or fund their own local schemes. Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham previously announced that single fares in the region will remain capped at £2 “for the whole of 2025 but subject to a mid-year review”. In West Yorkshire, the cap will remain £2 until the end of March, after which it will rise to £2.50 for the remainder of the year.
