BUS fares for short trips in Somerset will stay below £3, it has been confirmed.

On January 1, the Government’s cap on costs for bus journeys in the UK rose from £2 to £3 – a 50% rise.

However, in Somerset, operator First Bus has confirmed the £3 fare will only apply to journeys of three miles or more.

Trips of up to three miles will instead be charged at £2.40, while child fares will cost 50% of the adult rate, with special rates in some areas.

Fare zones will also be revised, First said, with four zones created for Taunton, Yeovil, Bridgwater and across the wider network.

First Bus in Somerset said the key changes were:

• Prices will align with the incoming UK Government’s £3 flat fare cap in England, meaning a short hop fare of £2.40, and a maximum single fare of £3 for longer journeys
• Day, Week and Month tickets continue to be available, while still offering unlimited travel within the respective zone
• Four easy to understand fare zones: Taunton; Yeovil; Bridgwater and Network
• Child tickets will be half price (50% less) of adult fares
• The £1.50 Adult Single fare and £0.80 Child Single fare continue to be available in Taunton
• By using Tap On, Tap Off, customers will be charged the best-value fare based on their journey. No matter how often they travel, customers will never pay more than the daily or weekly cap

James Eustace, Commercial Director for First Bus in Somerset, said: “Bus remains one of the cheapest, most convenient, and sustainable ways of travelling.

“Our fares in Somerset have been frozen for the last two years, as we wanted to absorb the inflationary rises, we were experiencing to support our customers. However, like so many other transport providers, we’re facing significant rising costs across our operations.

“We have strived to keep increases to a minimum, with customers on shorter journeys paying £2.40, and longer journey prices aligning with the incoming UK Government’s £3 flat fare cap.”

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MP Sarah Dyke (Lib Dem, Glastonbury and Somerton) welcomed the news.

“I’m thrilled that First Bus has chosen to prioritise passengers and has worked with local authorities to keep fares as low as possible,” she said. “The Government’s decision to raise the fare cap from £2 to £3 may not sound like a lot, but a 50% increase is a huge amount for people who rely on bus services for daily transport.

“I’m delighted First Bus has gone to every length and worked with local authorities to keep fares as low as possible.

“Affordable public transport is essential for so many people in Glastonbury and Somerton, especially in rural areas where buses are often a lifeline for work, school, and essential services and play an important part in the robustness of our rural economies.”

A First Bus spokesperson added: “While we had the option to increase some fares by a larger amount, we agreed with local authorities that we wanted to minimise the impact of any fare changes to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to encouraging more people to travel sustainably by bus.”

Ms Dyke added: “I’ve been vocal in Parliament about the need for real investment in public transport to improve rural services and connectivity.

“This decision by First Bus shows what can be achieved when local authorities and transport providers prioritise the needs of communities over profit margins.

“Public transport is a key solution to reducing carbon emissions, cutting congestion, and ensuring everyone has access to opportunity, wherever they live. I’ll continue to fight for fairer funding and greater support for rural public transport and particularly better connected bus and rail services.”