Fair’s fare – capping the cost of bus travel
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has made a clear commitment to building a country that works for everyone, everywhere. A key part of that is making everyday journeys easier and more affordable.
From January, bus fares will be capped at £2, helping people get to where they need to more easily and cheaper.
In Blackpool, that means a saving of £1 on every single bus journey, keeping people connected to work, school, healthcare, and their friends and family, whilst feeling real savings in their pockets.
With the Minister for Roads and Buses, Simon Lightwood, on a Blackpool Transport bus
The last introduction of a £2 fare cap saw an estimated 30 million additional bus journeys in just ten months - around a 5% increase in bus use outside London compared with the previous year. Bringing the cap back will help more people choose the bus, making travel more affordable while improving access to jobs, education and local services.
Affordable fares are only part of the picture. Reliable, high-quality buses matter too, and this Labour Government is investing to improve services across the country. Here in Blackpool, that commitment delivered £4 million last summer to improve local bus services through the Bus Grant Delivery Plan. With Blackpool Transport being named the UK's Bus Operator of the Year in 2025, passengers can look forward to a fair, and award-winning service.
While the £2 bus fare cap will return in January, we know that support is needed now. To provide relief for families over the summer holidays, there is free travel for children aged 5 to 15 (with under-5’salready free) throughout August. Alongside the Great British Summer Savings supporting Blackpool attractions to be more affordable over the summer holidays, getting there will be too.
The Prime Minister has long supported the idea that accessible, reliable public transport can transform communities. As Mayor of Greater Manchester, he introduced a new approach to public transport, putting buses at the heart of the local network. The success of the Bee Network has shown the demand for better-connected and more accessible bus services, and now he is taking that ambition nationwide through the £2 bus fare cap. Making bus travel more affordable will encourage people to choose public transport and keep Blackpool connected.
