A £2 bus charge rule for child fares in England will be scrapped from August under new Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
Child fares typically cost between £1 and £2, but from August 1 to 31, 2026, these fares will be scrapped to allow all children aged five to 15 years to benefit from free bus travel in England.
As well as free bus travel for children, the £3 bus fare cap has also been extended until March 2027, meaning single bus fares for adults will also be cheaper too.
The measures come on top of a £3 billion investment to make buses better nationally and deliver new and more reliable services for passengers.
Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander said: “Great British Summer Savings means more people can be excited about getting out and about this summer, whether it’s seeing the Roman Baths, learning something new at the Science Museum, or falling asleep on the bus ride home after a day riding rollercoasters at Alton Towers.
“I know that the cost of living is a concern for households across the UK, which is why we’re cutting the cost of the day-to-day, with free bus travel for children this summer and the £3 bus fare cap helping more families make the most of the small plans that make life enjoyable.”
The new PM has today told ministers he will lead a “cost of living government” and used the first meeting of his Cabinet to say that ministers must give people “a sense that help is coming”.
Burnham has already announced electricity bills will be VAT free from October 1, saving households around £45 per year as part of his promise to help ease the cost of living pressures.
He told his new Cabinet that further plans will be set out “over the coming days” and vowed to always show how policies will be paid for.
Speaking to his new top team in Downing Street today (July 21), Burnham said: “What can we do just to take that little bit of pressure off people’s shoulders, just to give them that little extra sense that help is coming so that they can have that bit of hope that things are getting better. And that’s the mission that we’ve got to set ourselves together.”