1 March 2023 Latest News

Cheaper bus travel for Essex passengers extended to end of June

Essex bus users now have until 30 June to benefit from lower fares as Government extends £2 Bus Fare Cap.

The majority of bus passengers in Essex will be able to travel more cheaply by bus for an additional three months until the end of June, after a Government fare discount scheme was extended.

Since January, the Bus Fare Cap has limited the price passengers will pay for an adult single fare to £2 on routes operated by bus firms which have opted into the scheme.

Initially set to end on 31 March, the scheme has now been extended to 30 June, thanks to additional funding of up to £75 million across England from central Government. The extension means passengers can continue to save around 30% against the average single fare price of £2.80.

The Department for Transport has also confirmed up to £80 million of continued support for critical bus services across England, taking the funding provided to bus companies across the country since March 2020 to £2 billion.

A number of bus providers in Essex are taking part in the £2 Bus Fare Cap. They are:

  • Cambus Limited T/A Stagecoach East, operating the Citi7 service between Cambridge and Saffron Walden.
  • DigiGo, covering parts of north Chelmsford, south Braintree, Great Dunmow, Great Leighs, Great Stanfield, Stebbing, Great Sailing.
  • First Essex Buses Ltd in Essex including Chelmsford, Basildon, Colchester, Hadleigh.
  • Galleon Travel 2009 Ltd in Uttlesford, Epping Forest, Harlow and Braintree.
  • Ipswich Buses Limited for services terminating in Colchester.
  • Konectbus Limited – trading as Chambers, Hedingham Omnibus and Konectbus, including services covering Colchester, Tendring, Maldon, Braintree and Halstead.
  • NIBS Buses Ltd covering Basildon, Wickford, Billericay and south-west Essex.
  • Stephensons of Essex Ltd, serving Braintree, Uttlesford, Rochford, Castlepoint, Colchester, Tendring and Maldon.
  • Arriva Kent Thameside, serving Rochford, Castlepoint, Colchester and into Southend.
  • Arriva East Herts and Essex, serving Harlow and route in Chelmsford.

Cllr Lee Scott, Essex County Council Cabinet Member for Highways Maintenance and Sustainable Transport, said: “It is great to see the £2 Bus Fare Cap has been extended by the Government, meaning Essex residents can continue to benefit from cheaper fares to travel by bus. Replacing car journeys with bus journeys helps reduce congestion, cut emissions and improve the environment and these cheaper fares will help residents keep their travel costs down at a time when we know money is tight for many due to cost of living pressures.

“We are also pleased to see the Government confirm a further £80 million to protect vital bus services. We know bus operators have been struggling since the pandemic due to reduced passenger numbers and this funding will help protect vital services which residents of Essex depend on. Reliable and affordable bus services are so important to the county’s economy, as well as the many Essex residents who rely on them to get to school, to work and to visit our town and city centres.”

More information on the £2 Bus Fare Cap can be found at www.gov.uk/guidance/2-bus-fare-cap or at bus providers’ websites.