BUS fares in Glasgow and parts of the west of Scotland will be capped at £2 per journey from today (Monday, September 7).
After a successful pilot scheme in the Highlands and Islands, the price cap on tickets has been extended to cover the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) area.
All of Glasgow’s main bus operators including McGill’s, Stagecoach, Citylink, and McColl's have signed up to the scheme, which covers the Glasgow, Ayrshire, Inverclyde, Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, and Dunbartonshire areas.
The cap will not be in place on some premium fare services, such as on night buses, but does cover McGill's airport service.
The £2 cap on bus fares for a single journey was a flagship pledge of the SNP's 2026 Holyrood election campaign.
First Minister John Swinney has repeatedly vowed that the cap will be in place across the whole of Scotland by the end of this parliamentary term, in 2031.
Commenting on Monday, Swinney said: "The cost of living remains one of the biggest challenges facing households across Scotland, so making public transport more affordable is all the more important.
"The launch of the £2 Bus Fare Cap across Strathclyde means that more people can get where they need to go with more money in their pocket – that is clear action to help people save money during a cost of living crisis.
"Following the successful rollout across the Highlands and Islands, this expansion is the next major step towards our ambition of delivering a national rollout of £2 bus fares, ensuring they apply in every area in Scotland.
"Bus travel remains the most widely used form of public transport in Scotland and we are working to make it as affordable, accessible and attractive as possible. This is vital to grow the economy, travel sustainably and protect the planet.”
The SNP claimed that "almost half of Scotland" now benefits from cheaper bus travel, including both fares capped at £2 and those who travel for free with a concessionary card.
SNP MSP Michelle Campbell said: “The SNP said that we would cap bus fares at £2 and that is exactly what from today we have done. Promises made and promises delivered.
“Almost half of Scots now have access to free or cheap bus travel – making it easier for folk to get to work, college, university, medical appointments, the shops, or see their families and friends."
Meanwhile, the Scottish Greens welcomed the introduction of the £2 fare cap in Glasgow, but called for the cap to be rolled out nationwide "as quickly as possible".
Scottish Greens MSP Patrick Harvie said his party "fought hard for the introduction of the £2 bus fare cap", adding that he is "delighted that it will be making a real difference to people and families in Strathclyde".
He added: “But we cannot stop here. People across Scotland should not have to pay more for their bus simply because of where they live. We want everyone in every community to feel the benefit of this as soon as possible.
“The Scottish Greens secured this policy in the first place, and we’re now determined to see it rolled out across the whole of Scotland as quickly as possible."
Harvie continued: “The expansion to Strathclyde is a major step forward, but it must not become an excuse for further delay elsewhere. The Scottish Government should get on with rolling out the £2 fare cap across Scotland.”
Andy Cullen, regional director of First Bus in Scotland, said: “We look forward to welcoming our regular customers on board and seeing more people discover the value of using the bus in their daily travel across Glasgow and the wider region.
“We will continue to work in partnership with the government to ensure the £2 fare cap is a success and reinforces the important role of buses in keeping people, families and communities connected to jobs, education, training, healthcare and leisure.”
