Travelling by bus continues to be affordable with single fare tickets costing just £2 allowing passengers to travel across Essex, exploring its vibrant cities, picturesque countryside and charming towns.Â
All you need to do is ask your bus driver for a single ticket then sit back and enjoy your bus journey. Before you travel make sure to check your route is eligible for the £2 single fare at £2 bus fare cap - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). The £2 rate will run until 31 October 2023.
The capped single fare will then be extended for at least another year at £2.50 until 30 November 2024 – when the government will review their effectiveness and future bus fares. The Dft have stated:
"The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) estimates that inflation will be halved by the end of this year, and capping fares at £2.50 until November 2024 will create longer-term certainty for bus users over the next year. The fare cap will be reviewed ahead of November 2024".
Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-extends-2-bus-fare-cap-and-protects-vital-services
So, where can you travel to for £2? Below are seven of our top ways to take advantage of the scheme:
Beach walk - Increase your daily steps with a costal walk (Colchester to Frinton on the Hedingham 105/107).
Stansted Airport - Travel to the airport without paying expensive parking charges (First Buses Southend to Stansted X30 and Basildon to Stansted X10, both via Chelmsford).
Country Parks - Relax with a book and then enjoy a walk around one of Essex's parks (First Buses S1 or S2 Wivenhoe or Stanway to Highwoods Country Park).
Visit another County - Take a trip to Cambridge from Saffron Walden (Stagecoach 7). What sightseeing would you do first?
Essex Cities - Travel between two cities (Chelmsford and Colchester).
Travel into London - Catch First Buses 351 to Shenfield where you can take the new Elizabeth Line into London.
Explore Central Essex with £2 fares on DigiGo. Read more on that here.
Or for more ideas, why not plan a journey? For real time bus timetable updates straight to your phone make sure to download the TravelEssex app from the below stores...
‎Travel Essex on the App Store (apple.com)
Travel Essex - Apps on Google Play
