More bus fares to be capped at £2 by council

14 hours ago

Charlotte Bentonin Telford

News image — Ollie Vickers, cabinet member for the economy and transport, said the cap had been a "lifeline" to passengers

BBC/Charlotte Benton A man with short ginger hair and ginger beard standing in front of Telford bus station. He is wearing a white shirt and black jacket. The sun is shining in the background with some clouds in the sky behind the grey and white bus station. — Ollie Vickers, cabinet member for the economy and transport, said the cap had been a "lifeline" to passengers

Bus passengers in Telford and Wrekin will pay less for a single fare on more routes from Monday.

The £2 fare cap on services run by Telford and Wrekin Council has been expanded to also include routes operated by Arriva across the borough.

Councillor Ollie Vickers, cabinet member for economy and transport, said the expansion would make a "huge difference to the affordability of public transport".

He added: "One of the main things we know people are struggling with is the cost of living, by bringing this cap in we're putting money back into people's pockets and ensuring you can get around with a cheap fare."

The offer will also apply to fares for under-19s, with single journeys capped at £1.

The authority will subsidise operators in order to deliver a consistent single fare across the borough.

The national bus fare cap, covering most bus journeys in England, is currently £3.

BBC/Charlotte Benton A young woman with red and black shoulder length hair standing in front of a white tiled wall. She is smiling and wearing a red jumper. — Passenger Emily Tarr, 19, said the reduced fares "made life easier"

Vickers said the council had secured a government grant as part of its Better Buses programme to fund the expansion.

He added that passengers who had previously travelled on the capped council-run routes described the fares as a "lifeline" and said it had "saved the average bus user hundreds of pounds".

"One man who used to get taxis everywhere, moving to buses with the £2 cap, over time he was able to save up enough money and he says that helped him put a deposit down on a house," Vickers said.

Passenger Emily Tarr, 19, welcomed the expansion and said it "made life eaiser"

Another passenger Kieran Tilley, 20, said: "Even just a one pound saving makes a difference."

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