Fare cap on buses and trams comes into effect
The £2 fare cap came into force last week on buses and trams across South Yorkshire as part of plans to combat the cost-of-living crisis.
The price freeze was brought in last week on 1 November, two months ahead of the the planned national £2 cap on bus journeys between January and March.
South Yorkshire’s Mayor, Oliver Coppard, said: “As we head into winter, I know just how many people in South Yorkshire are worrying about feeding their families, heating their homes, and affording the very day to day basics as the cost of living continues to spiral.
“Public transport is part of the solution. That’s why we’re not just introducing the £2 fare cap early here in South Yorkshire, we’re extending it to include trams.”
The Mayoral Combined Authority added that the cap will save up to 50% on some trips and cut the price of over 700,000 journeys that cost more than £2.
Mayor Coppard has set out ambitious plans to fix South Yorkshire’s public transport system, and has already announced the supertram service will come into public ownership when its contract with Stagecoach ends in 2024.
Mayor Coppard added: “Bit by bit we’re making things better for the travelling public. This is just another step on that journey.”
The price cap comes after a £12.3 million rescue package from South Yorkshire’s Mayoral Combined Authority to protect bus routes and school services from cuts by operators.
