The Go-Ahead Group says it has now sold more £2 tickets than the population of England since national bus fare cap began in January 2023, and reports large increases in passenger numbers on longer routes in Sussex, Yorkshire, and Buckinghamshire.
The Group says that ticket sales have reached 60 million across its eight regional bus networks. Its Brighton & Hove Buses and Metrobus subsidiaries were the biggest carriers of passengers under the scheme, the Group says, having carried more than 15 million passengers at the £2 fare. Longer routes have proven particularly popular under the scheme, the company says, with journeys on routes such as the Metrobus 270-273 which collectively run from Crawley and East Grinstead to Brighton showing a 30% increase in passenger numbers, whilst Carousel Buses’ route 102 from High Wycombe to Heathrow Airport produced a 40% rise in customers. East Yorkshire Buses’ X46 service from Hull to York witnessed a 43% increase in passengers, and the Salisbury Reds X3 from Salisbury to Bournemouth saw a 25% jump in passenger numbers.
Go-Ahead’s Managing Director for Regional Bus Martin Dean said: “In just over a year, we’ve sold a £2 bus ticket for every man, woman and child in England. That’s great news – it shows that the bus fare cap has encouraged our regular customers to get out and about more frequently, and it’s attracted new passengers onto our buses. Longer bus services between towns and villages are proving particularly popular at £2. The success of this scheme is a reminder of just how important buses are in connecting communities and helping people to access vital local services.”
Roads Minister Guy Opperman said: “The number of people who are saving money through our get around for £2 fare cap is continuing to grow and grow – with fares in England, outside of London, falling by over 6% and by nearly 11% in rural areas. It is clear getting around for £2 has got people back on our buses, better connecting our communities, supporting the economy across the country and giving people the freedom to travel and save some cash while they do.”