The £2 fare cap for some bus routes will probably be prolonged till the tip of October - earlier than rising to £2.50 till November 2024.

The scheme - launched in the beginning of this yr - had been set to finish by 30 June, however the authorities says it can now run for longer.

Extending the programme will value the Exchequer an additional £200m - with Transport Secretary Mark Harper additionally pledging £300m to "protect vital routes and improve services".

But Labour claims the announcement "risks more vital services being slashed" after a "near-record numbers of buses" have been "axed" final yr.

A Confederation of Passenger Transport report from earlier this month mentioned that £390m was wanted over the following 18 months to maintain service ranges the identical, fairly than the £300m promised.

And knowledge means that about 1,000 routes have already stopped up to now yr.

London, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and West Yorkshire will not be lined by the £2 scheme, as they have already got fare caps in place.

A full record of routes included will be discovered on the federal government web site.

The authorities says that capping fares at £2.50 till November 2024 "will create longer-term certainty for bus users over the next year" - including that it is going to be reviewed forward of the cut-off.

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The £300m will probably be "shared between local transport authorities and bus operators", the federal government added.

It mentioned that £2bn has been supplied to assist the bus trade recuperate from the pandemic.

A spokesman mentioned: "While it is the responsibility of bus operators and local transport authorities to ensure an adequate provision of bus routes, the government continues to work closely with the sector to support local areas in dealing with changing travel patterns while managing pressures on the taxpayer."

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak mentioned: "By extending the £2 fare cap, we're making sure bus travel remains accessible and affordable for everyone, while helping to ease cost of living pressures.

"Buses join our communities and play a significant function in rising the financial system; they transport folks to work, take our children to highschool and ensure sufferers can get to docs' appointments.

"That's why we're determined to protect local routes and encourage more people onto the bus, ensuring people can get around easily and in an affordable way."

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Labour argued the federal government was failing to guard bus routes.

Louise Haigh, the shadow transport secretary, mentioned: "The Conservatives need to come clean - this announcement risks more vital services being slashed, while communities are denied any say whatsoever.

"With a near-record variety of buses axed final yr, it is clear the Tories' damaged system is failing tens of millions, and so they don't have any plan to repair it.

"Labour will launch the biggest reform of buses in a generation, ending the Tories' broken system, and handing power and control of routes, fares and services back to the communities who depend on them."

Content Source: information.sky.com