£2 bus fare cap prolonged till October, however critics worry important providers are prone to being slashed

The £2 fare cap for some bus routes can be prolonged till the tip of October – earlier than rising to £2.50 till November 2024.

The scheme – introduced at the start of this year – had been set to finish by 30 June, however the authorities says it’ll now run for longer.

Extending the programme will value the Exchequer an additional £200m – with Transport Secretary Mark Harper additionally pledging £300m to “protect vital routes and improve services”.

But Labour claims the announcement “risks more vital services being slashed” after a “near-record numbers of buses” had been “axed” final 12 months.

A Confederation of Passenger Transport report from earlier this month stated that £390m was wanted over the following 18 months to maintain service ranges the identical, quite than the £300m promised.

And knowledge means that about 1,000 routes have already stopped up to now 12 months.

London, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and West Yorkshire aren’t coated by the £2 scheme, as they have already got fare caps in place.

A full listing of routes included could be discovered on the federal government web site.

The authorities says that capping fares at £2.50 till November 2024 “will create longer-term certainty for bus users over the next year” – including that it will likely be reviewed forward of the cut-off.

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The £300m can be “shared between local transport authorities and bus operators”, the federal government added.

It stated that £2bn has been offered to assist the bus business recuperate from the pandemic.

A spokesman stated: “While it is the responsibility of bus operators and local transport authorities to ensure an adequate provision of bus routes, the government continues to work closely with the sector to support local areas in dealing with changing travel patterns while managing pressures on the taxpayer.”

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stated: “By extending the £2 fare cap, we’re making sure bus travel remains accessible and affordable for everyone, while helping to ease cost of living pressures.

“Buses join our communities and play a significant position in rising the economic system; they transport individuals to work, take our children to high school and ensure sufferers can get to docs’ appointments.

“That’s why we’re determined to protect local routes and encourage more people onto the bus, ensuring people can get around easily and in an affordable way.”

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Labour argued the federal government was failing to guard bus routes.

Louise Haigh, the shadow transport secretary, stated: “The Conservatives need to come clean – this announcement risks more vital services being slashed, while communities are denied any say whatsoever.

“With a near-record variety of buses axed final 12 months, it is clear the Tories’ damaged system is failing thousands and thousands, and so they haven’t any plan to repair it.

“Labour will launch the biggest reform of buses in a generation, ending the Tories’ broken system, and handing power and control of routes, fares and services back to the communities who depend on them.”