Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority Board approves subsidy to keep £2 bus fares to March 2025

A proposal from Mayor Dr Nik Johnson to maintain a £2 cap for bus fares in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough until the end of March was approved at an extraordinary meeting of the Combined Authority Board today (December 13). 

The decision follows the reinstatement by Government of a national fare cap at £3 from January 1, 2025. Prior to October's budget, the £2 fare cap was due to end on December 31, 2024.  

Mayor Dr. Nik Johnson called the extraordinary meeting to explore how local funding could further support affordable journeys. 

Mayor Dr Nik Johnson said: “Government took an important step in supporting bus users by putting a £3 fare cap in place to the end of 2025. But as a Combined Authority, we also had the ability to act. Keeping fares as low as possible for our residents maintains our commitment to better buses, helping people get to places of work, education and leisure more affordably, and encouraging people to choose public transport.”    

The £2 fare will support the Combined Authority's Bus Strategy by encouraging public transport use, increasing passenger numbers, and providing a cost-effective alternative to car travel. 

The estimated cost to keep fares at £2 for three months is around £1 million, funded through the Combined Authority's 2024/25 Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) grant from Government. The grant is for bus service initiatives including keeping travel affordable and supporting bus services. 

The Combined Authority will work now with bus operators to ensure the £2 fare cap remains in place. Decisions about any extension to the cap beyond March 2025 will be made as part of the Combined Authority's budget and medium-term financial plan-setting process in early 2025. 

Notes to editors 

1. Combined Authority Bus Improvements: Ongoing improvements to the regions bus services, linking to the Bus Strategy and Local Transport and Connectivity Plan goals, include: 

• Tiger Pass: Over 30,000 young people have now applied for free passes offering  £1 single fares for under-25s. 

• Concessionary Travel: Free all-day travel for eligible bus pass holders will be introduced in May 2025. 

• New Routes and Protections: The Mayoral precept is funding 30 new or improved bus routes, many of which are now up and running, and safeguarding 23 previously withdrawn routes. 

• Bus Franchising Consultation: The recently completed consultation will see the Mayor take a decision on whether to introduce franchising for greater local control in early 2025. 

2. Read the report to the Extraordinary meeting of the Combined Authority Board https://democracy.cambridgeshirepeterborough-ca.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=141&MId=576&Ver=4 

3. Government press release on the £3 fare cap: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/over-1-billion-to-boost-bus-services-across-the-country-as-bus-fares-capped-at-3