Telford & Wrekin Council extends bus fare cap

As part of its ongoing commitment to improving public transport, Telford & Wrekin Council has extended its £2 adult and £1 under 19 fare cap to more bus routes across the borough.

The Council is one of the first councils in the Midlands to extend its flat fare rate offer across Travel Telford and Arriva services within the Borough. This marks another step in its commitment to delivering reliable, affordable, accessible and user-friendly public transport.

Single bus journeys that start and end within Telford & Wrekin on Travel Telford and Arriva services are now capped at £2 for adults and £1 for under 19s.

Previosuly the £2 single fare applies to only council-operated Travel Telford services, which make up around 24% of the local bus network. This agreement means passengers will now pay the same fare across both Council-run and Arriva services for eligible journeys.

The change was agreed as part of the 2026/27 budget, with the Council subsidising operators to deliver a consistent single fare across the brough. It builds on the success of the council’s own Travel Telford services, which have seen passenger numbers increase since launching in December 2022.

The fare cap extension supports the Council’s ongoing work to strengthen public transport and widen access to low-cost travel no matter which service residents rely on for work, school, healthcare or visiting family and friends.

For the past two years, the Council has maintained the lowest single bus fare in the Midlands and one of the lowest in the whole country on its own routes. Extending this offer across Arriva services will make everyday travel simpler, more consistent and better value for people while supporting greater choice and affordability.

Councillor Ollie Vickers, Cabinet Member for the Economy and Transport said:

“We are proud of the progress we’ve made over the past three years, building a well-connected, efficient transport system that meets the needs of residents, businesses, and visitors alike, along with our continued focus on affordable fares, new routes, and improved services well into the future. 

“This is a significant step forward for public transport in Telford & Wrekin and we’re proud to be leading the way on affordable bus travel.

“Extending the £2 and £1 fare cap across more services means people can travel around the borough for a simple, consistent price.

“We’ve already seen the positive impact our council-run services are having, with passenger numbers continuing to grow. This next step builds on that success and strengthens our commitment to affordable, accessible public transport across the borough and supporting you with the cost of living.”