Tory transport chief’s warning of bus ‘catastrophe’ avertedTransport chief warns of 600% bus fare hikes in North Yorkshire£2 bus fare cap to be extended in Harrogate district until October

The £2 cap on single bus fares is set to be extended in the Harrogate district until October 31.

The government announced an extra £300 million funding for the scheme today.

From November, the cap will rise to £2.50 for another 12 months.

A list of bus companies and routes in Yorkshire and the Humber taking part in the initiative is available here.

The scheme, which was introduced in January, was due to end in June.

Ministers at the Department for Transport said the extension will help people with the cost of living.

It means bus companies in Harrogate look set to continue the £2 cap on single fares.


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A spokesman for Transdev, which runs Harrogate Bus Company, said: 

“We wish to participate in the extended arrangements announced today, and will confirm further details with our customers and colleagues shortly.”

DalesBus also confirmed it would participate in the scheme.

Meanwhile, Mark Harper, transport secretary, said:

“Taking the bus is the most popular form of public transport and millions of people rely on these vital services every day.

“That’s why we’re investing half a billion pounds to help people save money amid cost of living pressures and continue to level up transport in all parts of the country, doing our bit to help halve inflation and grow the economy.”

Harrogate bus operators confirm £2 fare cap extension

Bus companies in the Harrogate district have confirmed they will take part in an extension to the £2 fare cap.

The move comes in line with a government announcement that it had extended the cap until on single tickets until June this year.

The scheme was introduced at the start of January and was due to finish at the end of March. 

But the Department for Transport announced last Friday that it was providing £75 million to extend the initiative.

Paul Turner, commercial director at Transdev, said Harrogate Bus Company would take part in the extension.

He said:

“We’re delighted to see to see that the Department for Transport has announced that the £2 fare cap will be extended until the end of June.

“So far during the fare cap, we have seen 11% extra customers on some of our routes, compared to customer numbers in November, and we’ve also seen the busiest day in the history of our company.

“The three month extension to the cap is bound to be good news for our existing customers, and we hope it will continue to encourage new customers out of the car and onto the bus.”


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Meanwhile, Craig Temple, managing director at Connexions Buses, said the operator would also continue with a £2 cap on fares.

The £2 cap has reduced the cost of a 29-mile journey from Ripon to Leeds on the 36 bus by 73 per cent from £7.50 to £2, while the cost of a ticket from Harrogate to Bradford on the Flyer A2 has fallen by 63 per cent from £5.40 to £2.

Ministers hope the initiative will reinvigorate bus services amid fears many routes will be cut when funding runs out.