MOST Essex residents will be able to travel more cheaply by bus for three months at the start of 2023, thanks to a new Government scheme.

The Bus Fare Cap will limit the price passengers will pay for an adult single fare to £2 on routes operated by bus firms which have opted into the scheme.

Running from January 1 to March 31, 2023, the scheme is backed by up to £60 million of central Government funding and will save passengers around 30% against the average single fare price of £2.80.

A number of bus providers in Essex are taking part in the scheme. They are:

• Cambus Limited T/A Stagecoach East, operating the Citi7 service between Cambridge and Saffron Walden.
• DigiGo, covering parts of north Chelmsford, south Braintree, Great Dunmow, Great Leighs, Great Stanfield, Stebbing, Great Sailing.
• First Essex Buses Ltd in Essex including Chelmsford, Basildon, Colchester, Hadleigh.
• Galleon Travel 2009 Ltd in Uttlesford, Epping Forest, Harlow and Braintree.
• Ipswich Buses Limited for services terminating in Colchester. 
• Konectbus Limited – trading as Chambers, Hedingham Omnibus and Konectbus, including services covering Colchester, Tendring, Maldon, Braintree and Halstead.
• NIBS Buses Ltd covering Basildon, Wickford, Billericay and south-west Essex.
• Stephensons of Essex Ltd, serving Braintree, Uttlesford, Rochford, Castlepoint, Colchester, Tendring and Maldon.  
• Arriva Kent Thameside, serving Rochford, Castlepoint, Colchester and into Southend.
• Arriva East Herts and Essex, serving Harlow and route in Chelmsford.

The scheme is aiming to take around 2 million cars off the road while encouraging greater bus use to help the industry in its continued recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Cllr Lee Scott, Essex County Council Cabinet Member for Highways Maintenance and Sustainable Transport, said: “It is great to see so many bus operators in Essex have signed up to take part in the Government’s Bus Fare Cap scheme.

“We know cost of living pressures are affecting many people and hopefully these discounted fares will help Essex residents to cut costs as they use buses to get to school, to work and to visit our town and city centres.

“Swapping car journeys for bus trips also helps reduce the number of cars in our town and city centres, reducing congestion, cutting emissions and improving the environment.

“With these discounted fares, I would encourage residents of Essex to give it a go and get around for £2 this winter.”

The temporary £2 Bus Fare Cap on adult fares does not change the concessionary fare scheme or impact free travel. Colchester and Chelmsford Park and Ride services are also not included as the single fares are already below £2. TfL services operating in Essex are excluded by the scheme’s terms, but have their own fare offers. 

More information on the £2 Bus Fare Cap can be found at www.gov.uk/guidance/2-bus-fare-cap or at bus providers’ websites.