Cambridgeshire leaders urge government to provide clarity on bus fare cap

It comes after the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) board signed off on the extension of the popular £1 Tiger Pass scheme until March 2027, in line with the timescale of the current £3 national bus fare cap.

Members of the CPCA board, made up of council leaders and representatives from across the county, met on December 18 and approved the retention of the Tiger Pass scheme in its current form, ensuring the continuation of affordable bus travel for people under 25.

However, the lack of certainty around the future of the national fare cap left council leaders concerned about the future of the Tiger Pass beyond 2027.

In a letter to the government written by CPCA Mayor Paul Bristow, and signed by Peterborough and Cambridgeshire council leaders, it stated: "When the Tiger Pass was introduced, it offered half-price travel on buses for all young people under the age of 25. The discounted fare was set at £1, with CPCA funding the other £1.

"When the government increased the national fare cap from £2 to £3, this doubled the cost of the Tiger Pass to the authority. We are now pursuing a new reimbursement model with bus operators, alongside other changes, to meet the funding challenge over the next financial year.

"Despite the agreement of our highways authorities to an increase in their transport levy contributions, the challenge is likely to increase over time, particularly as demand increases. For that reason, we urge you to provide clarity on the future of the national fare cap from April 2027.

"Another increase to the fare cap would leave us unable to fund the Tiger Pass in its current form or at current fares. If the cap is removed altogether then, without compensatory measures, we would not be able to sustain the Tiger Pass."

The letter also supported the idea of a national scheme for discounted bus travel for under 22s if the national fare cap was to be raised or removed.

Since it began, the Tiger Pass has seen significant uptake, with over 60,000 passes issued and more than 3.2 million journeys made.

It was heard at last week's CPCA board meeting how the scheme had not just been beneficial for young people in terms of education and work, but also for their social lives and independence.

Mr Bristow described the Tiger Pass as the "most generous discounted travel scheme for young people in the country".