Region's £2 bus fare cap extended into 2026

The £2 cap is set to extend until January 2026

A £2 cap on a single bus fares in the Liverpool city region will remain in place until January 2026.

The region's metro mayor Steve Rotheram made the announcement on BBC Radio Merseyside, where he said the cap, which had been due to end in three weeks' time, would be extended.

The cap went up to £3 in other parts of the country in January, but was frozen on Merseyside and in neighbouring Greater Manchester.

Rotheram said the scheme to keep fares lower had cost the city region combined authority around £50m in subsidies over the last three years.

The £2 fare was introduced in September 2022 with funding from the region's Bus Services Improvement Plan (BSIP) settlement and was credited with helping passenger numbers rebound after the Covid pandemic.

Asked how long he could keep the cap in place, the mayor said it would be reviewed in January.

He said he wanted to help shoppers and high streets over the Christmas period, but admitted that the price freeze "can't last forever".

The frozen fee is set to be reviewed at the start of next year

Affordable bus travel was a priority because "82% of all public transport journeys in the Liverpool City Region are by bus", Rotheram said.

He said: "Travelling across the city region by bus is cheaper today than it was when I came into power 8 years ago".

"If anyone can point to anything else they buy; tea or coffee or any of the essentials that are cheaper than they were 8 or 9 years ago, then good luck to you!"

City region buses will be brought under local control from next year under a franchise agreement.

The mayor said this would improve local decision making about timetables and routes.

A combined authority spokesman said supporting young people remained a priority, with the MyTicket fare cap allowing unlimited all-day bus travel for just £2.20.

Earlier this year, the city region introduced a free travel pass for care leavers aged 18–21.