Feb 2025 – The Department of Transport (DfT) released the final evaluation report of the £2 Bus Fare Cap (2BFC) scheme over its first 10 months (January to October 2023).
A summary of the main findings:
- Cost of living impact:
- The £2 fare cap successfully reduced travel costs for passengers, particularly benefiting low-income households.
- Increase in bus patronage:
- There was a noticeable increase in bus ridership across participating areas. The simplicity and affordability of the £2 cap encouraged more people to use buses, contributing to a recovery in bus patronage following pandemic-related declines.
- Passenger confidence:
- The fare cap helped restore and increase passenger confidence in public transportation. Passengers reported feeling more confident about using buses regularly, knowing the cost would be capped at a predictable and affordable price.
- Operator participation:
- A significant number of bus operators voluntarily joined the scheme, demonstrating broad support for the initiative. However, there was challenges for some operators in terms of financial sustainability and operational logistics.
- Geographical variations:
- The impact of the scheme varied across different regions of England, with areas that had higher population densities or more frequent services seeing greater uptake and benefit from the fare cap.
- Financial implications:
- The scheme proved to be financially effective in terms of Government support and subsidies, though there was concerns about long-term sustainability.
- Passenger satisfaction:
- Overall, passengers were satisfied with the initiative, particularly appreciating the affordability and ease of understanding the fare structure. Some may have highlighted areas for improvement, such as better service frequency or extended hours of operation.
- Impact on travel behaviour:
- The £2 cap likely shifted travel behaviour, with passengers using buses more frequently or at different times, particularly during off-peak hours.
In summary, the scheme appears to have achieved its key objectives of reducing travel costs for passengers, supporting the recovery of bus patronage, and increasing passenger confidence in bus services.
Read the full report on DfT website: Evaluation of the first 10 months of £2 bus fare cap
More information on the scheme Evaluation of the £2 bus fare cap
