Jonathan Djanogly, MP for Huntingdon, has today welcomed the new bus fare cap scheme Get Around for £2 which aims to help families, commuters and other passengers across England save money this winter.
The cap came into effect on 1 January, will last until 31 March, and involves over 130 bus operators including National Express and Stagecoach East, which provides local services in Huntingdon, Cambridge and Peterborough.
With the average single local bus ticket costing £2.80, all passengers will save almost a third of the ticket price per journey.
The scheme forms part of the Government’s Help for Households campaign which seeks to support households with the cost of living and find out how to save money with energy tips.
The initiative also builds on the allocation of more than £2 billion to support bus services in England throughout the pandemic, as well as a commitment to fund improved services as part of the Bus Back Better national strategy published in 2021.
Commenting on the scheme, Jonathan said:
“Many residents across Huntingdon rely on bus services to get around and, with the cost of living continuing to pose challenges, the decision to cap services at £2 will make a significant difference for local households and businesses.
“This is especially the case for those in more rural areas who tend to rely on bus services the most, and I know that work continues to help make accessing them even more reliable and affordable in the future.”
Also commenting, Buses Minister Richard Holden said:
“Brits love buses. They’re the most popular form of public transport in England, making up half of all journeys. So we’re investing £60 million to cap single bus fares at £2 to help families, students and commuters and help get people back on the bus.
“The scheme will also take 2 million car journeys off the road and it’s fantastic to see so many bus operators signing up. So, if you’re in Carlisle or Weston-Super-Mare, Birmingham or Doncaster, make sure you hop on the bus and ‘Get Around for £2’ between 1 January and 31 March.”