Users of Derbyshire buses have been given a boost following the government’s decision to extend the £3 bus single fare cap scheme until “at least” March 2027.

The announcement was made by Chancellor Rachel Reeves during her spending review, delivered to the House of Commons on June 11^th.

The current £3 cap, which applies to most single bus journeys on local and regional routes in England (outside of London) replaced the £2 initiative which was introduced by the then Conservative government in January 2023 and was due to expire in December.

The scheme is funded by the government and forms part of their Help for Households campaign.

Here in Derbyshire the cap applies to all adult fares but those with concessionary cards, such as the b_line will still receive the same discounts as before on their respective passes.

Children's fares for passengers aged 5-16 are currently capped at £1.50 for any bus journeys which start or finish in Derbyshire (including Derby), but some bus companies may charge less. b_line1 card holders may be asked to present it to the driver to prove they are under 16.

In general, under 5s travel free on public transport when accompanied by a fare paying adult. Check with the driver when boarding for eligibility for under 5s.

A list of local and regional bus companies operating the £3 scheme are listed on the gov.uk website.