Portsmouth backs £2 bus fares after record growth in passenger numbers

Portsmouth has welcomed the return of the £2 bus fare cap, though the city’s Liberal Democrats have called for even cheaper journeys.

In his first week in office as prime minister, Andy Burnham announced that single bus fares in England will be capped at £2 from January 2027.

The move reverses a decision by Keir Starmer’s government, which increased the fare cap to £3 in January 2025.

Mr Burnham said: “Good, affordable transport links are an essential. No one should be priced out of those and left behind.

“But for too long people have said that cheaper transport isn’t an option. I don’t accept that. I’ve done it before and I will do it again now: a £2 cap on bus fares for millions across the country.

“Lower fares will help people get to where they need to – giving them breathing space to help with the cost of living.”

Councillor Liam Robinson, Chair of the Local Government Association’s inclusive growth committee, said: “This is a positive measure that will help ease the cost of living and mean people can travel more affordably in their area.

“Alongside the new devolved powers over buses, Government must continue to work with councils and transport authorities to develop a longer-term funding model to put local bus networks on a sustainable financial footing.”

Portsmouth has seen bus use boom by 41 per cent over the past two years, with more than one million journeys now being made each month.

The council says this represents the strongest post-Covid recovery of any UK city, including Manchester.

Councillor Peter Candlish, Portsmouth City Council’s cabinet lead for transport, welcomed the cap but said Labour should have reduced fares even further.

He said: “I welcome Labour’s U-turn and the return of a £2 capped single bus fare from Jan 2027.

“However, the Liberal Democrats have been calling for it to be cut to £1 immediately.

This would have shown Labour was serious about helping with people’s travel costs whilst at the same time promoting public transport and making travel more sustainable.

“It’s a missed opportunity for a much bolder and more ambitious plan.”

The Liberal Democrats said the success of Portsmouth’s bus network showed “imagine what could be done” if fares were reduced to £1.