West Yorkshire Mayor Proposes Bus Fare Cap Increase to £2.50 for Next Year

The mayor for West Yorkshire has presented proposals that could see the single bus fare cap in the region increase by 50p, reaching £2.50, starting next March. This adjustment would still position West Yorkshire’s fares among the nation’s most affordable, considering the Labour government’s national increase of the cap to £3. Tracy Brabin’s initiative extends the Mayor’s Fares scheme, which she launched in September 2022 to assist residents with increasing living costs. These proposals are scheduled for review and approval by regional leaders at an upcoming meeting of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) next month. Additionally, the price of a DaySaver ticket, valid for unlimited journeys on any bus, is projected to increase from £5 to £6 next year. On a national level, the Labour party announced in last month’s Budget that the single bus fare cap would be elevated to £3 next year. This represents an increment from the present £2 limit, which the former Conservative government implemented to mitigate the cost of living. The expiration of that particular cap was set for the end of December. However, the funding mechanism for buses in West Yorkshire differs structurally, a characteristic shared with London and Greater Manchester. The respective mayors in these regions possess greater authority over the allocation of funds. West Yorkshire pioneered the introduction of a £2 fare cap in England in September 2022, with the government adopting a similar measure in January 2023. Previously this year, the WYCA declared that the £2 cap would remain in effect until at least March 2025. The WYCA stated that the proposed £2.50 single fare cap and £6 DaySaver fares in West Yorkshire are intended to be maintained from April through the conclusion of 2025. By contrast, single bus fares managed by Transport for London in London are £1.75, and in Greater Manchester, they are £2. The government recently disclosed that the region would be allocated £36 million to enhance bus services. Ms Brabin characterized the authority to regulate bus fares as “devolution in action” and described it as a “privilege in a cost of living crisis” to prioritize these costs. She expressed optimism that by securing bus prices for 2025, individuals would gain the capacity to plan their commutes and manage transport budgets effectively. She stated: “More affordable and simpler fares are the only way to get more people using public transport, reducing congestion, improving air quality and tackling the climate emergency.“Improving our bus network and bringing it back under public control is central to our plan to build a greener, better-connected region that works for all.” Advocates for enhanced bus services have offered a guarded reception to this announcement. Matthew Topham, a campaigner for improved public transport affiliated with the We Own it group, informed the BBC that the mayor merited “praise for this initial step to insulate local passengers from the rising tide of prices”. However, he noted that it “sadly falls short of the fares as low as £1.75 in regions with public control, like Manchester or London, or full public ownership, like Edinburgh”. Ms Brabin explained that she extended the subsidy until the close of next year to offer commuters certainty regarding their travel expenses. She also indicated that she anticipates the Labour government will release the outcomes of the Spending Review in the spring of next year, along with additional specifics concerning the implications of the new Buses Bill. Following this, she stated she would be in a position to formulate plans for West Yorkshire’s transport costs extending beyond 2025.