From 1 January 2023, over 130 bus operators across the country will introduce a £2 fare cap on single tickets. The cap will remain in place until 31 March 2023. The scheme is part of an initiative funded by the Government aimed at boosting bus use while helping passengers to save money as the cost of living crisis continues to bite, fuelled in part by high petrol and diesel prices. To read more about the Government scheme: https://helpforhouseholds.campaign.gov.uk/help-with-transport-costs/
The following bus operators in Somerset have confirmed that they will definitely be taking part in the £2 fare cap scheme:
- Dartline
- Faresaver Buses
- First South West (Buses of Somerset)
- First West of England
- Hatch Green Coaches
- South West Coaches
As well as the above, the Wiltshire cross border Service 47 Frome-Westbury, Service 53 Frome-Warminster, and Service X69 Frome-Bradford-on-Avon-Melksham operated by FromeBus are also covered by the £2 fare cap along their entire routes. However, please note that at this stage, Services 47, 53 and X69 are the ONLY FromeBus services confirmed as being covered by the £2 fare cap along their Somerset route sections.
Local Bus Services included in the £2 fare cap:
Route No and service description Operator
1 Yeovil – Shepton Mallet South West Coaches
1 Oakhill – Bruton South West Coaches
5 Yeovil – Dorchester South West Coaches
6 Bridport – Crewkerne – Yeovil Buses of Somerset
10 Porlock – Minehead Buses of Somerset
10C Stanchester Sch – Taunton Hatch Green Coaches
11 Yeovil Town Service South West Coaches
14 Bridgwater – Cannington – Nether Stowey Buses of Somerset
15 Minehead – Bridgwater College Buses of Somerset
16 Huish Episcopi – Bridgwater Hatch Green Coaches
19 Bridgwater – Street Hatch Green Coaches
20 Burnham – Brean – Weston First West of England
20 Seaton – Wellington – Taunton Dartline
21 Rooksbridge – Bridgwater College Buses of Somerset
21/21A Burnham – Bridgwater – Taunton Buses of Somerset
22/22A Taunton – Rockwell Green/Tonedale Buses of Somerset
23/23B Williton – Taunton Hatch Green Coaches
25 Taunton – Wiveliscombe – Dulverton Buses of Somerset
28 Minehead – Taunton Buses of Somerset
29 Glastonbury – Taunton Buses of Somerset
30 Taunton – Ilminster – Chard – Axminster Buses of Somerset
47 Frome – Westbury FromeBus
51 Abbey Manor Park – Yeovil – Cavalier Way Buses of Somerset
51 Stoke St. Gregory – Taunton Hatch Green Coaches
52 Martock – Yeovil South West Coaches
53 Frome – Warminster FromeBus
54 Taunton – Langport – Somerton Buses of Somerset
55 Taunton – Strode College Buses of Somerset
58/58A Yeovil – Henstridge – Wincanton Buses of Somerset
75 Bridgwater – Glastonbury/Wells Buses of Somerset
77 Yeovil – Wells Buses of Somerset
81 South Petherton – Yeovil South West Coaches
96 Yeovil – Chard – Taunton South West Coaches
98 Broadway – Taunton Hatch Green Coaches
99 Taunton – Chard Buses of Somerset
173 Wells – Chilcompton – Bath First West of England
174 Wells – Shepton Mallet – Bath First West of England
376 Street – Glastonbury – Wells – Bristol First West of England
387 Sidmouth – Churchingford – Trull – Taunton Dartline
398 Tiverton – Dulverton Dartline
613 Bishops Lydeard – Bridgwater College Hatch Green Coaches
624 Chard – Bridgwater College Hatch Green Coaches
623 Rockwell Green – Wellington – Bridgwater College Buses of Somerset
625 Taunton – Cannington College Buses of Somerset
646 Charlton Horethorne – Strode College South West Coaches
647 Gillingham – Strode College South West Coaches
652 Odcombe – Strode College South West Coaches
667 Wincanton – Street South West Coaches
B1 Penlea Estate – Bridgwater – Sydenham Estate Buses of Somerset
D2 Bath – Norton St. Phillip – Frome First West of England
PR1 Taunton Park & Ride Buses of Somerset
X10 Yeovil – Sherborne – Stalbridge – Blandford Buses of Somerset
X34 Chippenham – Melksham – Trowbridge – Frome Faresaver Buses
X47 Frome – Trowbridge Faresaver Buses
X69 Frome – Bradford-on-Avon – Melksham FromeBus
Exmoor Coaster Buses of Somerset
Bus services operating in Taunton are also subject to the £1 fare scheme for journeys made wholly in the Taunton Town Fare Zone.
The following bus services operate wholly within the Taunton Town £1 fare zone:
1 Taunton – Priorswood Buses of Somerset
2 Taunton – Priorswood Buses of Somerset
3 Bishops Hull – Taunton – Hudson Way Somerset County Council
4 Taunton – Lane Estate Buses of Somerset
6 Taunton – Holway Buses of Somerset
7 Taunton – Galmington Buses of Somerset
12 Taunton – Monkton Heathfield Somerset County Council
97 Canonsgrove – Trull – Taunton Hatch Green Coaches
PR1 Taunton Park & Ride Buses of Somerset
Other routes may be added to the above list during the period that the £2 fare cap is in force, and we will do our best to inform you promptly if and when that happens. For example, we are awaiting confirmation of whether some additional cross border services with other Local Transport Authorities can be included in the £2 fare cap.
For more information: https://www.travelsomerset.co.uk/bus/bus-it-you-know-it-makes-sense/
This scheme is undoubtedly one of our best upcoming opportunities to encourage more people to use the bus, so we would be very grateful indeed if you could do all you can to let people in your community area know about the £2 fare cap.
