Single bus fares to be capped at £2 in many parts of Essex next year
It's after 10 local bus operators signed up to a government scheme
The price of an adult single bus fare will be capped to £2 in many parts of Essex early next year, after ten local bus operators signed up to a government scheme.
The Bus Fare Cap will run from January 1 until March 31, backed by £60m worth of government funding across the country.
Bus providers taking part include:
• Cambus Limited T/A Stagecoach East, operating the Citi7 service between Cambridge and Saffron Walden.
• DigiGo, covering parts of north Chelmsford, south Braintree, Great Dunmow, Great Leighs, Great Stanfield, Stebbing, Great Sailing.
• First Essex Buses Ltd in Essex including Chelmsford, Basildon, Colchester, Hadleigh.
• Galleon Travel 2009 Ltd in Uttlesford, Epping Forest, Harlow and Braintree.
• Ipswich Buses Limited for services terminating in Colchester.
• Konectbus Limited – trading as Chambers, Hedingham Omnibus and Konectbus, including services covering Colchester, Tendring, Maldon, Braintree and Halstead.
• NIBS Buses Ltd covering Basildon, Wickford, Billericay and south-west Essex.
• Stephensons of Essex Ltd, serving Braintree, Uttlesford, Rochford, Castlepoint, Colchester, Tendring and Maldon.
• Arriva Kent Thameside, serving Rochford, Castlepoint, Colchester and into Southend.
• Arriva East Herts and Essex, serving Harlow and route in Chelmsford.
Councillor Lee Scott, who is responsible for transport at Essex County Council, said: “It is great to see so many bus operators in Essex have signed up to take part in the Government’s Bus Fare Cap scheme.
“We know cost of living pressures are affecting many people and hopefully these discounted fares will help Essex residents to cut costs as they use buses to get to school, to work and to visit our town and city centres.
“Swapping car journeys for bus trips also helps reduce the number of cars in our town and city centres, reducing congestion, cutting emissions and improving the environment.
“With these discounted fares, I would encourage residents of Essex to give it a go and get around for £2 this winter.”