Oxfordshire’s leading bus operators have confirmed that the government-backed £3 fare cap on single bus journeys will remain in place across the county until the end of 2026, offering continued savings for passengers and supporting sustainable travel.
Oxford Bus Group, which comprises Oxford Bus Company, Thames Travel, Carousel Buses and Pulhams Coaches, has reaffirmed its participation in the national scheme.
The initiative, funded by the government, caps adult single bus fares at a maximum of £3 across England outside London, helping to ease cost-of-living pressures while encouraging greater use of public transport.
Many fares across the Oxford Bus Group network already fall below the national cap, meaning customers will continue to benefit from affordable travel options throughout Oxfordshire and beyond.
Luke Marion, Managing Director at Oxford Bus Group, said: “We’d like to remind our customers our participation in the government’s £3 fare cap continues across our bus networks this year.
“The scheme has helped us boost passenger numbers and reinvest in developing our network to continue to make bus travel as accessible and attractive as possible.”
He highlighted ongoing investment in cleaner transport, adding: “For example, we will soon be welcoming 13 new electric buses to Oxfordshire’s roads as we expand our fleet of electric vehicles across the county.”
Passengers are encouraged to check individual operator websites for further information on how the £3 fare cap applies to specific services, as well as details of the range of travel passes available.
Frequent bus users are also advised to consider multi-journey and period passes, which can offer significant additional savings.
One example is the adult CityZone four-week pass, priced at £64 when purchased through the Oxford Bus and Thames Travel mobile app. The pass allows unlimited travel across city and Park & Ride services, as well as Thames Travel routes within the CityZone area.
The CityZone covers much of greater Oxford, stretching from Kennington in the south and Cumnor to the west, through Wheatley to the east, and including areas such as Blackbird Leys, Kidlington and Wytham.
Concessionary bus pass holders can continue to use their passes at the usual times. Meanwhile, Freeflow users are reminded to tap on and off when boarding and leaving buses to ensure they are charged the correct fare. Passengers who fail to tap off will be charged to the end of the route, up to the maximum £3 fare.
