Liverpool fares to stay at £2

While the £2 fare cap for England is due to change to £3 at the beginning of next year, Liverpool’s £2 fare is to remain in place until September 2025.

Introduced by the Mayor in September 2022 with funding from the region’s Bus Services Improvement Plan (BSIP) settlement, the £2 fare cap has helped to restore ridership in the local bus following the pandemic. Bus travel is the most popular form of public transport in the Liverpool City Region, accounting for over 80% of all journeys made every day. More than 1.6 million £2 tickets are bought every month.

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: “This is fantastic news for passengers and businesses across the Liverpool City Region.

“Affordable and reliable bus services are key to ensuring that everyone, no matter their income or background, can get to work, access education, or simply enjoy all that our region has to offer.

“When I was re-elected I made a commitment to keep bus fares in the region as low as possible, and I’m proud to deliver on that commitment.

“Nationally we’re currently operating in a really challenging financial context with the mess inherited from the previous government, but by saving the £2 cap we’re really demonstrating the power of devolution. It gives us the freedom to take bold action, ensuring that the decisions we make are directly driven by the needs and priorities of the people who live here.

“But this is not just about getting from A to B, it’s part of our wider efforts to make clean, sustainable travel more accessible, tackle congestion, and make the Liverpool City Region net zero carbon by 2035.

“Going forward I’ll be looking at how fares will be structured to keep them as affordable as possible as we bring buses into public ownership.”

Liverpool City Region maintains its plans to franchise the area’s bus network, with plans start in St Helens in 2026.