National Express confirms Birmingham bus fares for 2024 with £2 cap announcement

National Express West Midlands has confirmed it will continue to participate in the Government’s £2 single fare cap scheme next year.

The announcement means that single fare passengers will pay £2 for fares until the end of 2024. The Government had confirmed that the initiative, which first launched in January 2023 as part of the Government’s Help for Households scheme, would remain in place next year.

The scheme was launched to help people with the cost-of-living crisis and includes the £1 single tickets for children and young people aged 18 and under.

National Express West Midlands passengers using contactless can Tap and Cap and will find their fare cap is automatically applied so they won't have to pay more than they should - as long as they tap on with the same card or device.  

What's been said about the scheme being extended?

Andy Street, the Mayor of the West Midlands, said:  “Buses are the backbone of public transport in the West Midlands, connecting communities and accounting for tens of thousands of journeys every single day.

“That’s why it’s so important we keep fares low and affordable, which is exactly what today’s confirmation by National Express West Midlands does. We already have some of the lowest and simplest bus fares in the UK, and now this £2 cap allows us to go even further.

“Ultimately we want more people to use our buses to help cut congestion and carbon emissions. That’s why we have provided £40 million to keep bus services going during this challenging time, are building miles of dedicated bus lanes to make services more reliable and attractive, and are investing in measures such as the try-before-you-buy incentive scheme announced last week.”

Alex Jensen, CEO for National Express UK, Ireland and Germany, added: “Bus is by far the most popular form of public transport here in the West Midlands, so we are pleased to be working with Transport for West Midlands and the Department for Transport to extend the £2 single ticket until the end of 2024.

“More people using buses is good for the economy, good for the environment and good for wider society. Bus travel is simple, cheap and easy and there’s never been a better time to get onboard.”