Families across the West of England are set for millions of pounds in further bus fare savings after regional leaders agreed to keep the £1 child fare in place until spring 2029.
Photo © West of England Mayoral Combined Authority / Anna Barclay
The extension forms part of a wider support package being funded by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority (WECA), which says the discounted fare has already saved families around £1.1 million over the past year.
By the time the scheme ends in 2029, that total is expected to rise by another £3.3 million.
Those savings are separate from the £1.1 million already saved through the Kids Go Free scheme during the summer and Christmas school holidays since June 2025.
The combined authority said children’s bus use in lower-income areas rose particularly sharply during last summer’s offer compared with the same period a year earlier.
A number of other fare support measures introduced since last spring have also reduced costs for passengers across the region.
According to the authority, more than £350,000 has been saved through the frozen multi-operator day ticket, more than £410,000 through free travel for care leavers, and over £45,000 through the Youth Guarantee free bus pass.
Money from the Department for Transport’s Bus Grant will now be used to keep child fares at £1 for the next three years. The authority said that means children’s fares in the region will remain lower than they could be elsewhere, where under national rules they can be as high as £1.50 per trip when adult fares are capped at £3.
Other support is also being continued, including the multi-operator fare cap, free bus travel for care leavers up to the age of 25, the Youth Guarantee free bus pass and the Diamond Pass for older and disabled passengers.
Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said: “People around the West are already benefitting from our £1 child fare cap, so parents and carers will be glad to hear that we have frozen child fares for the next three years.
“Local families are expected to save more than £4 million as a result by 2029, helping ease the cost of living.
“Our child fare cap is making a difference that people can see and feel, as part of region-wide efforts to help lift more children out of poverty.
“Likewise, the extension of free bus travel for care leavers and Diamond Pass holders will be a real help for a range of bus passengers in the West of England.”
Roads and Buses Minister Simon Lightwood said the move would help keep travel affordable for families while making it easier for younger people to reach education, opportunities and their communities.
He said: “Keeping the cost of travel down for families is vital, and I’m pleased to see the West of England is leading the way with the £1 child fare cap extended through to 2029, thanks to our Bus Grant.
“This practical, targeted support, made possible by £42 million of Government funding, helps with the cost of living while making it easier for young people to access education, opportunities, and their communities.
“We’re determined to support the delivery of affordable, reliable and accessible transport networks that passengers deserve.”
The combined authority is now preparing to ask residents for their views on its developing Bus Plan, which is intended to help councils, operators and communities work together on a more reliable network.
Better buses have been identified as one of the region’s priorities following the record £752 million transport investment secured from government last year.
The Transport Vision published last month also set out wider ambitions including simpler ticketing, coordinated timetables, rail improvements, mass transit, safer active travel and better streets.
