24 January 2023
Go-Ahead carries two million passengers at £2 under nationwide fare cap
National low fares scheme proves popular across Go-Ahead’s bus networks
Promotional ticket sales reach £4 million in first three weeks of January
Scheme allows Go-Ahead’s local operators to add new routes and services
Go-Ahead’s bus companies have carried two million passengers at the nationwide promotional fare of £2 since the Government began funding a scheme capping the price of bus travel on New Year’s Day.
Under the offer, adult single fares across England are no more than £2 for a three-month period, irrespective of distance. Funded with £60 million under the Government’s “Help for Households” program, the initiative is intended to help the public with cost-of-living pressures this winter. As of today, Go-Ahead bus companies outside London had sold over £4 million worth of tickets.
Participating Go-Ahead bus companies include:
Brighton & Hove Buses and Metrobus
Go South Coast – Bluestar, Morebus, Southern Vectis, Salisbury Reds and Swindon’s Bus Company
Go South West – Plymouth Citybus, Go Cornwall, Go Devon and Dartline
The Oxford Bus Company – including Carousel Buses and Thames Travel
Go East Anglia – Konectbus, Hedingham and Chambers
East Yorkshire Buses
Go North East
Demand created by the scheme has allowed Go-Ahead bus companies to launch several new routes – including a new route from High Wycombe to Great Missenden run by Oxford Bus Company, and a Konectbus service in Norwich connecting the city centre with the Heartsease Estate.
Bus journeys available for £2 on Go-Ahead’s buses stretch geographically from Go Cornwall’s route 34 from Redruth to The Lizard – England’s most southerly point – to Go North East’s route 19, which links North Shields with Ashington, Northumberland.
The Buses Minister, Richard Holden, launched the national scheme in December with a visit to Go North East’s depot in Gateshead.
Martin Dean
Go-Ahead Managing Director, Regional Bus