Interim report – £2 bus fare cap evaluation

17 May 2023 – An independent evaluation of the £2 bus fare cap has been published by the Department for Transport (DfT). 

Observations from the first month of the scheme include:

  • take-up of the scheme varied by region, rurality, household income and car ownership
  • awareness of the scheme was high with national news acting as the main channel for raising awareness
  • early evidence suggests a potentially positive impact on patronage and the cost of living
£2 bus fare cap evaluation

The scheme was launched by the DfT on 1 January 2023. It was originally due to run until 31 March 2023 but has since been extended for an additional 3 months to the end of June 2023. During this period, bus operators can voluntarily implement a £2 cap on eligible single tickets for adults. The aims of the fare cap are to save passengers money and encourage more people back on the bus.

The evaluation, carried out by Frontier Economics and SYSTRA, is ongoing and further findings will be published when completed.

Full report: Evaluation of the £2 bus fare cap