Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, has said that the £2 bus fare cap will be extended to the year 2025 across Greater Manchester.
This follows the announcement by Keir Starmer’s government of plans to raise the cap to £3 nationwide.
Greater Manchester now joins London in maintaining a lower bus fare cap; the cap will remain at £2 in Greater Manchester and £1.75 in London.
Burnham, who is undertaking the process of bringing Greater Manchester buses back into public control, starting in 2023, described the move as a “coming of age moment for devolution”.
Andy Burnham has also confirmed that a “London-style payment system” will be introduced on 23 March 2025, featuring a ‘tap in, tap out’ system and daily and weekly fare caps.
He said, “This is critical for growth for our region, if we don’t have a transport system that lets people get out and about everyday, then you don’t really have a vehicle for growth”.
Public transport has recently become more expensive for Manchester students, with bus fares rising in recent years.
In 2023, the single fare on the 142, 143, and 147 ‘magic buses’ was raised from £1.80 to £2. Additionally, the £4.80 Magic Day Ticket was discontinued, and the cost of the 7-Day MagicRider increased from £12 to £14.
The Greater Manchester Student Assembly petitioned the mayor for a £1.50 cap on public transport for students. However, this was not introduced.
Regarding the increase in the national bus fare cap to £3, the Department for Transport stated that this “single fare cap” would, “ensure millions of people can access affordable bus fares and better opportunities all over the country”.
Nationally, 28% of people believe that raising the bus fare cap is the right decision, while 55% disagree and think it is the wrong choice.
Secretary of State for Transport, Louise Haigh MP, stated that this “maximum cap” is part of the government’s efforts in “stepping in to keep fares affordable and protect services”.
Labour MP Zarah Sultana said that the government’s decision is a “political choice disproportionately hitting the poor“.
