Government announces extension and increase to bus fare cap: CCN responds

CCN Latest News, CCN News 2024 | 28 October 2024

Today the government has announced that the bus fare cap will stay in place until the end of 2025, but will be raised from £2 to £3.

The County Councils Network called for the bus fare cap to remain at the same price and be made permanent in its Manifesto for Counties.

Below, the network responds to today’s announcement by the Prime Minister.

Cllr Peter Thornton, Transport Spokesperson for the County Councils Network, said:

“Whilst we are disappointed that the bus fare cap will rise to £3, extending the cap for another year is a positive step and it will make a difference for many rural residents for whom buses are a lifeline service.

“However, the County Councils Network’s research has shown that one in four bus services have vanished in county and rural areas over the past decade, higher than reductions in services in cities and large towns. Alongside making travel more affordable, it is vital that the government addresses the decline in bus services in county and rural areas, including prioritising investment into the places that have seen the biggest reductions in routes and services and formulating a strategy that focuses on improving bus availability outside of England’s major towns and cities.”