Strengthening Scotland's bus network

Cabinet Secretary commits to affordability, availability and greater local control

Plans to improve the availability, affordability and accessibility of bus services across Scotland will be outlined in Parliament tomorrow as the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport sets out a vision for a stronger national bus network..

Stephen Flynn will outline measures which will be taken forward next year to improve local influence over bus services, support affordable travel during a cost of living crisis, and ensure communities remain connected.

This will include consideration of future minimum service expectations for communities and arrangements to support effective services across local authority boundaries.

The work builds on action already taken by the Scottish Government to reduce the cost of travel and support bus passengers. The £2 bus fare cap is now in place across the Highlands and Islands and the Strathclyde area, covering around half of Scotland's population and 60% of Scotland's land area, with expansion to Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire planned from April 2027.

Further to the £2 bus fare cap, free bus travel is available to 2.4 million people across Scotland, including everyone under 22, older people and eligible disabled people, helping support household budgets while improving access to education, employment and public services.

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

Buses are a lifeline for communities across Scotland. They connect people to work, education, healthcare and the services they rely upon every day.  

We have already demonstrated what can be achieved when we act to make public transport more affordable. Through free bus travel and the £2 bus fare cap, we are helping people with the cost of living while encouraging more sustainable travel.

Legislation to bring our bus network back into public control and ensure minimum service levels is the next stage in our work to strengthen Scotland's bus network – and we will bring forward that legislation at the earliest possible opportunity. We want communities to have confidence that bus services will remain available, reliable and responsive to local needs, and we will set out how we intend to work with local transport authorities, operators and passengers to achieve that.