Single bus fares cut to £2 across local bus routes

Millions of people across England can now save money and “Get Around for £2”, thanks to £60 million Government funding to cap single bus fares until the end of March.

These routes include Salisbury Reds and other local bus operators.

From today (1 January) until 31 March 2023, over 130 bus operators outside of London will charge no more than £2 for their single tickets across over 4,600 routes, helping families, commuters and other passengers save money on travel.

Salisbury Reds will be making some changes to how you can pay for fares during this time, as it is their goal to be more sustainable and reduce the use of paper tickets and the sticky wallets that some customers use for their weekly tickets.

The best way to pay for a single fare is with a tap on, tap off.  Just tap your contactless card or payment device on the driver’s ticket machine and tap off at the special reader by the door where you get off.  For weekly tickets, their app will offer the best value, but we are introducing weekly fare capping to tap-on tap-off payments that will be the same price as a weekly paper ticket.

If you use tap on tap off for weekly capping from 1st January 2023, this will activate on a rolling 7-day basis. So, if your first trip is Tuesday, your 7-day capped fare will be reached at the end of the following Monday.  You MUST use the same bank card or contactless payment device. 

More information is available via the Salisbury Reds website - https://www.salisburyreds.co.uk/single-bus-fares-reduced-ps2

With the average single bus fare for a 3-mile journey costing around £2.80 outside London, passengers will save almost a third of the single ticket price, with even bigger savings in some rural areas where tickets can reach over £5.

The initiative encourages people to get back on the bus to help the industry continue its recovery from the pandemic. It will also reduce CO2 emissions and tackle congestion by taking an estimated two million cars off the road.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper said: “By helping passengers outside London save almost a third off the average single bus ticket and taking two million cars off the road, the £2 bus fare cap is a fantastic way to start the new year.

“Buses are a key part of our vision for a clean, efficient and modern transport network that is affordable for everyone. That’s why we’re investing £60 million to encourage everyone to hop on the bus and ‘Get Around for £2’.”

The scheme forms part of the Government’s Help for Households campaign, as the new cap can deliver real savings for those most affected by the rising cost of living.

This fare cap builds on the allocation of more than £2 billion to support bus services in England through the pandemic and a commitment to fund improved services, new bus priority measures and new electric or hydrogen buses as part of the ambitious National Bus Strategy, published in 2021.

Martin McTague, National Chair of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) said: “More than a third of small firms consider public transport important to their business. It is therefore encouraging to see support on bus fares as we battle tough economic conditions. This move will likely encourage shoppers to go to towns and cities – just the fuel we need for economic growth.”

The Government will continue to work closely with bus operators and local authorities and consider future support to help passengers continue accessing reliable and affordable bus services after March.

Norman Baker from Campaign for Better Transport, said: “Affordable bus travel really is a win-win. Capping bus fares in this way will help struggling households, cut traffic congestion and carbon emissions, and inject new life into dwindling bus services.”