‘Get around for £2’ bus fare cap scheme to be extended and NNC set to receive £2m of new funding

The ‘get around for £2’ bus fare cap scheme will be extended and North Northamptonshire Council is set to receive £2m of new funding to improve bus services over the next financial year.

The Transport Secretary announced today (Monday, October 23) that the East Midlands would benefit from more than £27m of new funding for bus services, with £2.045m going to NNC.

This is the first tranche of £1bn worth of new funding that the government has pledged for bus services across the North and the Midlands as part of the Network North plan - with further funding allocations to be announced in due course.

The funding has been made possible after the Government’s decision to scrap the Birmingham to Manchester leg of HS2.

The £2 bus fare cap had been due to rise to £2.50 but will instead remain at £2 and continue until December 31, 2024.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “Today’s announcement marks the start of the Network North plan coming into action.

“We’re backing buses with one of the biggest ever support packages and keeping bus fares down to ensure the country’s favourite means of transport is more affordable for millions of people.

“This government is taking the right long-term decisions to deliver on our vision for a fairer and improved transport system by investing billions back into to the transport projects that matter most to people and their communities."