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Mayor's £2 bus fares in Ilkley area to last until March 2025

Bus fares in the Ilkley area and whole of West Yorkshire will remain capped at £2 until end of March 2025 despite a change to the national cap. 

The national cap on single bus fares, first introduced in January 2023, is being extended to continue throughout 2025 with a new maximum fare of £3 from 1st January 2025. Announcing the extension the Government said:

“the £3 maximum fare cap will keep bus travel affordable while ensuring the cap is fair to taxpayers, helping millions of people access better opportunities and protect vital bus routes, particularly lifeline services in rural communities.”

However locally Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, has announced that the fare cap will remain at £2 for bus journeys entirely within West Yorkshire until the end of March, when the fare cap for such journeys will increase to £2.50.

Tracy Brabin said:

“We are committed to keeping bus fares as low and affordable as possible, while investing in protecting the bus network across the region.

"Because we know that in order to deliver on the growth mission we must have a better-connected region. 

“Our Mayors fares scheme has helped get more people using buses in West Yorkshire, and I’m pleased to confirm that the £2 fare will be extended until the end of March.”

Fares for local journeys in the Ilkley area and journeys to places such as Keighley, Addingham, Otley and Leeds will therefore remain capped at £2 for the next three months, whilst fares for cross-boundary journeys into North Yorkshire – including buses to Skipton, Bolton Abbey and Grassington – will be capped at £3 throughout 2025.  

Single fares on Sunday DalesBus services 864 to Malham and 874 to Upper Wharfedale will also be capped at £3.

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