Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced a national £2 cap on single bus fares, a policy he first introduced as mayor of Greater Manchester. The scheme, backed by £454m of funding, will run through 2027.
The £2 cap on single journeys and £5 daily tickets (or £2.50 for children) were introduced in Greater Manchester in September 2022, a year before bus franchising began rolling out in 2023. Data from Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) shows bus passenger numbers in the region increased by 24% since 2023, from 143.2 million in the year ending March 2023 to 178 million in the year ending March 2026.
Passenger satisfaction and value for money
An annual survey by Transport Focus in March 2026 found a 'huge increase in overall passenger satisfaction across Greater Manchester' in the first full year of the bus network under public control. Happiness with value for money rose to 79% in the region, bucking the national trend where the average across England (where the fare cap increased to £3) fell to 63%.
Speaking in March while still serving as mayor, Burnham said: "While there is still much to do, to record the largest increase in bus customer satisfaction anywhere in the country in our first full year of local control is a fantastic achievement and one of the clearest indications yet that people are really feeling the benefit of the Bee Network."
National rollout and political context
Announcing the pledge as Prime Minister on July 22, Burnham said: "Good, affordable transport links are an essential. No one should be priced out of those and left behind. But for too long people have said that cheaper transport isn't an option. I don't accept that. I've done it before and I will do it again now: a £2 cap on bus fares for millions across the country."
When asked about "bringing back Boris Johnson's policy of £2 on the cap on bus fares," Burnham responded: "It was actually my policy originally as mayor of Greater Manchester, but I worked with Boris to take it national, and it was hugely popular because it's simple but it saves people money every day. So I think it will really help people with the cost-of-living pressures they're facing. It's there for the whole of 2027, and I think it will put money in people's pockets."
Benefits and criticisms of the Bee Network
Increased passenger numbers have led to more investment in the system, including the introduction of hopper fares in 2025 allowing single tickets to be used on other Bee Network buses within 60 minutes. The network also introduced new 24-hour night bus services and has plans to expand the Metrolink tram network and incorporate 64 Greater Manchester train stations by 2028.
However, the network has faced criticism. Passengers on some routes reported little change since buses were painted yellow, and a recent trip on the Number 50 bus found several passengers frustrated with reliability, with one woman saying she had taken to driving more.
Overall, the Bee Network and its £2 cap on single fares have changed public transport for the better in Greater Manchester, and similar changes are now set to be rolled out nationally.
