Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced that single bus fares across England, excluding London, will be capped at £2 from January 1 to December 31, 2027. The new cap replaces the current £3 fare cap and is intended to make everyday travel more affordable, potentially saving passengers up to a third on single trips.
Funding and Implementation
The £2 fare cap is supported by an additional £400 million from the government, financed by reallocating funds from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s budget, including shifting international climate funding from grants to loans. Until the new cap takes effect, most single regional fares remain capped at £3.
Where the Cap Applies
The £2 limit applies across England outside London. London is excluded because it operates its own Transport for London (TfL) network with a cheaper flat fare of £1.75. In Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, the fare cap does not automatically apply due to devolved transport powers, but the UK government is providing additional funding through the Barnett formula for similar caps if chosen.
Participating Bus Operators
The cap applies to eligible single journeys on participating local bus operators. While the final list for 2027 is yet to be confirmed, the scheme follows the same voluntary framework as past caps. Previously, over 140 bus companies, representing more than 90% of the bus network, participated. Expected operators include Stagecoach, Arriva, First Bus, Go-Ahead Group, National Express West Midlands, and many regional companies such as Blackpool Transport, Nottingham City Transport, and Transdev.
Included and Excluded Services
Covered services include standard local single journeys and rural/coastal routes where fares could exceed £10. Excluded services are long-distance coaches (e.g., National Express, Megabus), school buses, tour buses, and airport shuttles. The cap applies only to point-to-point one-way tickets; returns, day passes, weekly tickets, and multi-operator bundles are not covered. A complete database of routes and operators is available via the official GOV.UK Bus Fare Cap Guidance.
