Bus journey fares across the North East will continue to be capped at just £2 for a single ticket as the scheme is extended beyond its original deadline to June 30, 2023. Initially, the offer, which aims to entice more people to take public transport, was valid until March 31, 2023.
However, the Department for Transport has announced that more funding will be provided so that transport providers can continue to offer reduced fares. Thousands of passengers across the region have been benefitting from the scheme, allowing them to travel across the North East affordably.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “I’m determined to ensure that no matter where you live, you have the same opportunities to get around easily and can feel pride in your local area – which is why protecting our local bus services is so important.”
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Transport Secretary Mark Harper confirmed that £80 million in funding will be provided from 1 April to 30 June 2023 to protect vital bus services people rely on for work, education, medical appointments and shopping.
He said: “Travelling by bus remains the most popular option for commuters and families across the country, but the sector is still trying to recover after the end of the pandemic. We’re providing £155 million to help passengers save money on fares, get more people on the bus and protect vital bus routes – helping with the cost of living and enabling people to get where they need to in an affordable and convenient way.”
According to the DfT, the average bus fare for a three-mile journey in England is more than £2.80, so passengers across the country could save an average of 30% under the cap scheme. Any single fares that are less than £2 will not be affected.
Not every bus route will be subject to the £2 cap. But many in Newcastle, Sunderland and across the North East are. They include routes operated by Stagecoach, Go North East and Arriva.
Arriva County Durham
Routes included: 1, 10, 12, 13A, 13B, 19, 2, 2A, 3, 3A, 4, 5, 5A, 7, 8, 831, 8A, 9, X1, X21, X26, X27, X75, X76, 22, 22A, 23, 24, 43, 48, 49, 49A, 56, 56A, 57, 57A, 58, 6, 61, 62, 64, 865, X12, X46, 63, 64A, 81, 95, X3, X3A, X4, X4A, X93, X94, 15, 17, 17A, 28, 28A, 29, 7A, X17, X22, X66
Routes not included: ED3, ED5, 86, ED1, ED2, ED4, 318S, 323S, MC2, MC3, MC4, MC5, 805, MC1
Arriva Northumbria
Routes included: 1 , 2, 35, 57, 57A, MFF, X14, X15, X18, X20, X21, X22, 306, 308, 43, 44, 45, 47, 51, 52, 53, 54, X10, X11, X30, X7, X8, X9, 46, 46A, 51A, 55, 553, 555, 685
Routes not included: 116, 652, 695, 105, 654, 656, 693, 699
Stagecoach (Newcastle area)
Routes included:
Newcastle: 1, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 18, 22, 22X, 30, 31, 32, 32A, 35, 36, 38, 38A, 39, 40, 54, 62, 63, 68, 71, 72, 87, 100, 317, 685, 991, 995, X47, X63, X77, X78, X79, X82, X87, X88
South Shields: 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 30, 516, 575, X20, X34
Sunderland: E1, E2, E6, 3, 4, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 18, 18A, 20, 23, 99, 939, X1, X24, X24A
Routes not included in fare cap: 457, 510, 525, 542, 552, 556, 558, 801, 802, 803, 804, 807, 812, 815, 816, 819, 820, 821, 826, 827, 900, 901
Stagecoach (Cleveland area)
Routes included: 1, 3, 3A, 6, 7, 20, 980, 10, 12, 13, 13A, 13B, 14, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 52, 57, 58, 58A, 59, 61, 64B, 101
Routes not included: 308, 307, 309, 313, 314, 315, 310, 311
Go North East
Routes included: 93, 94, 327, 53, 54, 49, 49A, 49C, 309, 310, X39, 27, X70, X71, X72, X5, X15, X45, X46, 688, 689, 10, 10A, 10B, 10X, 680, 12, 12A, 681, 58, 74, Q3, V1, V2, 2, 2A, 4, 8, 8A, 937, 50, 91, 60, 56, N56, 209, 210, 135, 136, 65, 20, 20A, 39, 39A, 39B, 35, 35A, X66, 34, N21, X9, X10, X6, 5, X30, X31, 57, 41, 41A, AD122, 33, 61, X20, 21, 687, 683, 686, 684, 9, 16, 16A, 26, 38, 38A, 47, 47A, 78, 78A, 96, 97, 206, X1, X1A, 1, 51, 52, X50, 71, 201, 6, X85, 19, 643, 84, 85, X21, 24, 83A, 941, 92, 81, 83, 25, 28, 28B, 29, V5, 208, X62
Routes not included: 00001 S2, 00002 PO, 00003 13/09/1911, 00004 03/10/1913, 00005 Deptford Staff Shuttle, 00006 Washington Staff Shuttle, 00007 850 / 851 Faith Schools, 00008 Riverside 06:25 Staff Shuttle, 00009 NHS H
Weardale Motor Services
Routes included in £2 fare cap: 101, 84, 108, 109
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