The £2 Fare Scheme in Cumbria

The £2 scheme, which came into force at the start of the year, has been a great success, especially in tourist areas such as the Lake District ....

The open top Stagecoach service to Seatoller picks up passengers at Keswick bus station as another service awaits its place in the queue.

The £2 fare had been set to end by 30 June, but the government says it will now run for longer, into October. It will then be extended at £2.50 until November next year.

The government says that capping fares at £2.50 until November 2024 "will create longer-term certainty for bus users over the next year" - adding that it will be reviewed ahead of the cut-off. During the pandemic, bus usage dropped as low as 10% of pre-pandemic levels and, while passenger levels have recovered to around 85 to 90%, the fare cap aims to encourage people back on the bus, which can help reduce congestion and emissions.

The Lake District services run by Stagecoach have proved very popular with tourists and locals, as the routes take passengers along lengthy routes in the stunning countryside.

The 555 route allows travel between Lancaster, Kendal, Windermere, Ambleside, Grasmere and Keswick, a journey of over 50 miles, all for £2.

Stagecoach have recently introduced a new fleet of high specification ADL Enviro400's to serve the route, giving passengers comfort and facilities during their journey.

Click here to see the excellent Stagecoach Lake District  publicity which is also freely available in a printed version

If you've discovered a favourite journey by bus that offers good value for the £2 fare, email focustransport2011@gmail.com with details (plus photos if possible) for publication on a future posting.