A National Bus Fare Cap for Scotland
Following the May 2026 Scottish Parliament election, there is a clear democratic mandate for change in the way bus services in Scotland are paid for.
Scotland’s transport think tank STSG held a round table on 22nd June to review what politicians promised in May, and to identify feasible options for delivery.
The report of the round table is published here.
2 Comments
Will bus fare caps apply to community transport operators? (And if not, why not?) Dial-A-Ride passengers in the Lothians are charged on a mileage basis *starting at* at £7.25 for the first mile (HcL). Dial-a-bus fares are £2.40 in line with local services. In Fife, it is free.
Bespoke reimbursement arrangements will be needed (i.e. different from commercial services), as even when fares are high, they contribute only a small % of total running costs. Increased passenger demand (from reduced fares) cannot always be accommodated (because of limited capacity).
Congratulations to Margaret Roy on becoming our first female Chair. She will bring important new perspectives to the role at a time when the future of local government is again coming under scrutiny and the direction of our bus network is at a critical juncture.