Plans set out to expand £2 bus fare cap across Scotland

To support people with the cost of living, plans to expand a £2 bus fare cap across Scotland have been set out by the Scottish Government.

Opening a debate on affordable bus fares, the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport confirmed that work is now underway to extend the cap beyond the Highlands and Islands pilot, with early expansion planned for the Strathclyde region.

The Scottish Government’s commitment to a nationwide £2 bus fare cap will ensure that more people benefit from more affordable public transport.

Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport Stephen Flynn said:

The cost of living continues to put pressure on families across Scotland, and making public transport more affordable is one of the ways this government is determined to support people. That’s why we’ve scrapped peak rail fares and why we’ve committed record funding for bus services and concessionary travel in excess of £530 million for 2026-27.

In addition to free bus travel for under 22’s, which has been a massive success with over 300 million journeys now made through the scheme – our £2 bus fare cap is already helping people save money on everyday journeys, while making it easier to choose the bus.

We are now moving at pace to extend that support to more communities and ultimately deliver a nationwide £2 fare cap – helping households, supporting our economy and encouraging more sustainable travel.