Commuters across the Liverpool City Region are now benefitting from new, reduced bus fares.
Sunday saw the start of a historic move to cap all single bus fares on any routes around the city region. Following yesterday's Bank Holiday, today is the first time regular commuters will be experiencing the new fares.
Earlier this year, Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram announced that his combined authority would be capping single bus journeys in the region at a maximum of £2 in a bid to help residents who are being hit hard by the cost of living crisis. The new single adult fare – which is part of the Mayor’s wider plans to revolutionise the public transport system – will mean that some passengers will see a saving of up to 13% versus the current cost of their journey.
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The new reduced and simplified fare has been agreed with bus operators in the Liverpool City Region for an initial three-year period. It is being funded by the £12m Bus Services Improvement Plan (BSIP) allocation, secured by the Mayor and Combined Authority from government earlier this year.
As well as reduced single fare, the cost of a MyTicket, which allows young people under the age of 19 to benefit from all day unlimited travel on the region’s bus network, will also remain frozen at £2.20 until 2025.
Plans are also underway to simplify the region’s often-confusing ticketing system under a ‘tap and go system’ that would allow for greater freedom and flexibility with passengers guaranteed to always pay the cheapest fare.
Earlier this year the Liverpool City Region took a major step towards reforming its bus network after local leaders voted to confirm franchising as the preferred model for running the network – a landmark move that would reverse the industry’s deregulation in the mid-1980s.
This move is a key part of Mayor Rotheram's plans for a London-style interconnected public transport system and would see local leaders responsible for setting fares, routes and timetables for bus services around the city region.
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