£2 fare cap comes to Scotland:

[overthewater]

SNP has now pledge to extend the scheme, but they fail, to notice there unlimited travel tickets, If you traveling alot on the buses you still cheaper with these types of tickets. I would Love to see alot more routes, that the other side of the coin that is needed to get more people using the buses.

Bus fares across Scotland could be capped at £2 per journey, SNP manifesto says

BUS fares in Scotland would be capped at £2 per journey, the SNP’s manifesto has pledged.

www.thenational.scot

BUS fares in Scotland would be capped at £2 per journey, the SNP’s manifesto has pledged.

It is understood the policy would include a subsidy for bus companies to cover the difference and it will have no geographical barriers – meaning, for instance, a journey from Glasgow to Skye would cost just £2. The Scottish Greens have welcomed the pledge, but pointed to previous budget negotiations between the two parties in 2024/25, where the SNP rejected a £2 national cap. Currently in Scotland under 22s and over 60s can travel on buses for free. The £2 cap is already in place as part of a year-long pilot running in several council areas; Shetland, Orkney, Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Highland, Moray and Argyll and Bute. However, the SNP’s new policy pledge would expand this across all of Scotland’s 32 local authorities by the end of the next parliamentary term.

The manifesto says: “Our vision for transport is rooted in affordability, accessibility and sustainability. We have made real progress towards this with free bus travel for under 22s and over 60s.
“But we want to go further. That’s why by the end of the parliament we will take forward legislation to put in place a £2 bus fare cap across Scotland, building on our pilot in the Highlands, Orkney, and Shetland.

“This step of providing more affordable bus travel will help with modal shift and reduce household costs. Our action will benefit families, the economy, and the environment.”

Announcing the policy in Glasgow, John Swinney said: “Concessionary travel has been one of the great success stories of the SNP’s time in office and we are going to protect the existing schemes. But in this cost of living crisis - and as we face a climate emergency - it’s time to go further and be bolder. “People need to be able to afford to get to their work. To go out and see friends. To get about. “From Hamilton – to get here today by bus, would cost more than seven pounds. “From Paisley – it would cost six pounds.

In response to the SNP’s manifesto, the Scottish Greens welcomed the commitment, but noted the SNP’s previous rejection of the policy. The party have called for bus travel to be free for everyone in Scotland in their own manifesto. Mark Ruskell, the Scottish Greens transport spokesperson, said: “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and it’s positive to see the SNP saying they will build on the £2 bus fare cap that the Scottish Greens secured for the Highlands and Islands through budget negotiations.

 

[Buzby]

they fail, to notice there unlimited travel tickets

So what are these unlimited travel tickets that the Scottish Government don’t know about?

 

[AilsaBus]

So what are these unlimited travel tickets that the Scottish Government don’t know about?

Day Tickets etc

 

[overthewater]

Day Tickets etc

Don't forget weekly tickets, Or

One Ticket - East Scotland: https://www.one-ticket.co.uk/
SPT zone cards: https://www.spt.co.uk/tickets/zonecard/

The last two are government run scheme, Get the cost down to £20-25 a week for 4 zones and your be on to a real winner!

 

[GusB]

SNP has now pledge to extend the scheme, but they fail, to notice there unlimited travel tickets, If you traveling alot on the buses you still cheaper with these types of tickets. I would Love to see alot more routes, that the other side of the coin that is needed to get more people using the buses.

Bus fares across Scotland could be capped at £2 per journey, SNP manifesto says

BUS fares in Scotland would be capped at £2 per journey, the SNP’s manifesto has pledged.

www.thenational.scot

Why would the government need to be aware of the existence of unlimited travel tickets? Surely it's the responsibility of the person travelling to find out the best option for their journey.

Many people will probably make one out and back journey each day, so a day ticket isn't going to be any cheaper while the cap is in place. Furthermore, if I was to make a journey to somewhere like East Kilbride, for example, I'd be paying for four single tickets at £2 each and a day ticket would be useless anyway.

 

[johncrossley]

They have the same crazy fare culture as in England, but unlike most European countries. They don't take into account single journeys that involve a change of bus.

 

[185143]

They have the same crazy fare culture as in England, but unlike most European countries. They don't take into account single journeys that involve a change of bus.

To be fair, London and Manchester very much do.

But aside from those two cities, and any more I'm not aware of, I agree entirely!

 

[Aaron_TTL]

Depends on the route of course, but St Andrews to Dundee if you go there and back a day, Soon to be £9.40 for a day rider, 2x £2 tickets is less than half, so pretty decent if it goes ahad.

 

[johncrossley]

To be fair, London and Manchester very much do.

But aside from those two cities, and any more I'm not aware of, I agree entirely!

Brighton has a one hour ticket on the app and Dartford/Gravesend has a one hour ticket, but both cost more than the £3 fare cap.

 

[AilsaBus]

Don't forget weekly tickets, Or

One Ticket - East Scotland: https://www.one-ticket.co.uk/
SPT zone cards: https://www.spt.co.uk/tickets/zonecard/

The last two are government run scheme, Get the cost down to £20-25 a week for 4 zones and your be on to a real winner!

Didn't forget anything pal, that's why I said etc

 

[318266]

Don't forget weekly tickets, Or

One Ticket - East Scotland: https://www.one-ticket.co.uk/
SPT zone cards: https://www.spt.co.uk/tickets/zonecard/

The last two are government run scheme, Get the cost down to £20-25 a week for 4 zones and your be on to a real winner!

Both of these are also valid on trains, for what that is worth.

 

[185143]

Brighton has a one hour ticket on the app and Dartford/Gravesend has a one hour ticket, but both cost more than the £3 fare cap.

I think in Manchester you have to specifically ask for it, but they issue a ticket for £2 that is a hopper ticket.

London £1.75 tap in gets you unlimited bus tap ons for an hour.

 

[Buzby]

Day Tickets etc

Oh, they know about them. The real trick would be making them multi operator, there’s no acceptance between First and Stagecoach, and if I had £1 for the times a driver rejected a passengers proffered ticket, I would have had a tenner this week alone. If money was no object, you could opt for SPT’s pricey alternative but I’ve only seen tourists use them. The much promised multi-modal RFID card trialled at the Glasgow COP event still hasn’t materialised, although as the population is ageing waiting, they’ll be getting their Concession Card, so it’s not all bad new!

 

[johncrossley]

Oh, they know about them. The real trick would be making them multi operator, there’s no acceptance between First and Stagecoach, and if I had £1 for the times a driver rejected a passengers proffered ticket, I would have had a tenner this week alone. If money was no object, you could opt for SPT’s pricey alternative but I’ve only seen tourists use them. The much promised multi-modal RFID card trialled at the Glasgow COP event still hasn’t materialised, although as the population is ageing waiting, they’ll be getting their Concession Card, so it’s not all bad new!

The Scottish government obviously have the money to get rid of the weird ticketing in the Glasgow region, as they have money for this £2 fare cap. Scotland has had transport devolution for decades now so could have outlawed these single company tickets at any time. What's the point of independence if you copy the bad aspects of England anyway?

 

[Stan Drews]

Oh, they know about them. The real trick would be making them multi operator, there’s no acceptance between First and Stagecoach, and if I had £1 for the times a driver rejected a passengers proffered ticket, I would have had a tenner this week alone. If money was no object, you could opt for SPT’s pricey alternative but I’ve only seen tourists use them. The much promised multi-modal RFID card trialled at the Glasgow COP event still hasn’t materialised, although as the population is ageing waiting, they’ll be getting their Concession Card, so it’s not all bad new!

The multi-operator Glasgow Tripper ticket already exists, and has day and weekly options.

Don't forget weekly tickets, Or

One Ticket - East Scotland: https://www.one-ticket.co.uk/
SPT zone cards: https://www.spt.co.uk/tickets/zonecard/

The last two are government run scheme, Get the cost down to £20-25 a week for 4 zones and your be on to a real winner!

Neither of these multi-modal/operator tickets are government run schemes. They are run by the operators.

 

[Buzby]

The multi-operator Glasgow Tripper ticket already exists, and has day and weekly options.

This is a BUS only ticket. Just try using it on the Subway or ScotRail and see how far you get. (The COP card allowed them all). Perhaps you are content with this half-way house? We were promised full access after the COP ‘trial’.

 

[overthewater]

The multi-operator Glasgow Tripper ticket already exists, and has day and weekly options.

Neither of these multi-modal/operator tickets are government run schemes. They are run by the operators.

Where does SPT fit in with zone cards and Sestran with One ticket?

 

[Buzby]

Where does SPT fit in with zone cards and Sestran with One ticket?

Historically, SPTE (the E for Executive was dropped ages ago) created the first Zonal ticket system and it was designed to cover all areas of Strathclyde. SEStran has followed with their own scheme, but it is adjacent to, and not comparable with. (SEStran covers Edinburgh, Clackmannanshire, East Lothian, Falkirk, Fife, Midlothian, Scottish Borders, and West Lothian, serving a population of approximately 1.5 million).

 

[Stan Drews]

This is a BUS only ticket. Just try using it on the Subway or ScotRail and see how far you get. (The COP card allowed them all). Perhaps you are content with this half-way house? We were promised full access after the COP ‘trial’.

You said “The real trick would be making them multi operator, there’s no acceptance between First and Stagecoach, and if I had £1 for the times a driver rejected a passengers proffered ticket…”

Tripper will do this for you, as I said.
If you want a multi-MODAL ticket which a Subway or ScotRail driver will accept, then ZoneCard is the one for you!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Apr 2026 ==

Where does SPT fit in with zone cards and Sestran with One ticket?

SPT is one of the operators involved with ZoneCard, and whilst Sestran isn’t an operator I believe they have a seat at the One Ticket table.

 

[stadler]

I think in Manchester you have to specifically ask for it, but they issue a ticket for £2 that is a hopper ticket.

London £1.75 tap in gets you unlimited bus tap ons for an hour.

Liberty Bus in Jersey also has a one hour ticket that costs the same as a single ticket but you have to specifically ask for it. I do not understand why you have ask for it in Manchester and Jersey when it costs the same. Why not just issue it by default. It is stupid to have separate single tickets and one hour tickets that cost the same exact price but yet one has far less validity.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Liberty Bus in Jersey also has a one hour ticket that costs the same as a single ticket but you have to specifically ask for it. I do not understand why you have ask for it in Manchester and Jersey when it costs the same. Why not just issue it by default. It is stupid to have separate single tickets and one hour tickets that cost the same exact price but yet one has far less validity.

It is I suspect to stop them being chucked on the floor on alighting and picked up and used by someone for free. Someone would only ask for one if they were making a connection so wouldn't do this.

 

[johncrossley]

Liberty Bus in Jersey also has a one hour ticket that costs the same as a single ticket but you have to specifically ask for it. I do not understand why you have ask for it in Manchester and Jersey when it costs the same. Why not just issue it by default. It is stupid to have separate single tickets and one hour tickets that cost the same exact price but yet one has far less validity.

In the case of Jersey do you get a paper ticket even if you pay by contactless or smartcard? It is unclear from the website. In the case of Greater Manchester, using tap on contactless gives you the one hour ticket automatically.

 

[JKP]

You said “The real trick would be making them multi operator, there’s no acceptance between First and Stagecoach, and if I had £1 for the times a driver rejected a passengers proffered ticket…”

Tripper will do this for you, as I said.
If you want a multi-MODAL ticket which a Subway or ScotRail driver will accept, then ZoneCard is the one for you!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Apr 2026 ==


SPT is one of the operators involved with ZoneCard, and whilst Sestran isn’t an operator I believe they have a seat at the One Ticket table.

Sestran was the facilitator of the One Ticket scheme involving operators and local authorities.

 

[Bletchleyite]

In the case of Jersey do you get a paper ticket even if you pay by contactless or smartcard? It is unclear from the website. In the case of Greater Manchester, using tap on contactless gives you the one hour ticket automatically.

That's the easiest way to protect revenue on it, because you aren't going to give your debit card to some random person on the street but you might give them a "hopper" ticket to use to make another journey.

 

[Buzby]

You said “The real trick would be making them multi operator,

This was the description given at the Glasgow COP ‘launch’, the card provided to delegates was described informally ‘if it moves’, this ticket will take you’. The public were promised the ability to purchase said ticket once the trial was complete. Zonecards have existed for years prior to COP, so clearly this was the next generation - and we’re still waiting.

 

[Deerfold]

Liberty Bus in Jersey also has a one hour ticket that costs the same as a single ticket but you have to specifically ask for it. I do not understand why you have ask for it in Manchester and Jersey when it costs the same. Why not just issue it by default. It is stupid to have separate single tickets and one hour tickets that cost the same exact price but yet one has far less validity.

Do you actually have to ask for it in Manchester?

Their website describes it as a "single hopper ticket", but doesn't mention any other single.

 

[Stan Drews]

This was the description given at the Glasgow COP ‘launch’, the card provided to delegates was described informally ‘if it moves’, this ticket will take you’. The public were promised the ability to purchase said ticket once the trial was complete. Zonecards have existed for years prior to COP, so clearly this was the next generation - and we’re still waiting.

Can I ask why you are simply dismissing ZoneCard, which appears to offer exactly what you are seeking - a smart card that allows travel on buses, trains and subway?

 

[Buzby]

Can I ask why you are simply dismissing ZoneCard,

The first Zonecards were exactly that, made of card with a separate ID panel featuring the users picture And was in circulation for many years. If you had the temerity to use the Subway, you had to get a separate (yellow) magnetic ticket which was forever getting lost from the pouch or getting demagnetised by your mobile phone. Spin forward many years (to 2023?) and we have ‘Z ZoneCard’ where you purchase the card and send in a picture to be printed/embedded and posted back to you - it is to the ITSO standard and administered by Nevis Technologies (who also do the Transport Scotland promoted Concession cards).

The reason I dismiss it is because this is not what was promised at the COP trial, which was a walk-up-and-go, no photo required, and a single travel area. Z Zonecard has 7 of them, as you add a new zone the price jumps, and will only reduce if you increase the validity period, which of course makes the cost of purchase go up. Many cities have similar offerings so SPT’s in neither new or innovative. COP was a 4 day event, with the trial cards having a single zone and were appreciated by those I spoke to. Commuters may find ‘Z ZoneCard’ useful, but not if you only require travel over a long weekend. The admin-heavy administration process has meant many potential users will find it far too expensive, and not what was promised. Lastly, it still cannot be added to a mobile as a Travelcard, only the ITSO card will work, and it is suggested this will be a possible ‘future development’.

 

[Vexed]

Do you actually have to ask for it in Manchester?

Their website describes it as a "single hopper ticket", but doesn't mention any other single.

You don't have to ask if you just tap in and use pay as you go.

 

[johncrossley]

Can I ask why you are simply dismissing ZoneCard, which appears to offer exactly what you are seeking - a smart card that allows travel on buses, trains and subway?

What percentage of public transport users in the Glasgow region use it? It is undercut by not only single mode tickets, but also single operator tickets. This means fewer people take advantage of the obvious potential benefits of connections between bus and train in a region with quite a dense rail network.