National Express makes biggest ever cuts to bus fares
Published: 28th Jul 2021
National Express West Midlands has implemented new ticket prices to coincide with the lifting of Covid restrictions which will save the average commuter over £130 a year.
National Express is making travel cheaper and easier by dropping most of its fares, as well as guaranteeing that nobody will pay more for their bus travel than they do now.
A day bus ticket that’s valid all day for travel across the whole West Midlands will cost only £4. The price of a weekly bus pass will drop from £17.50 to £15. And a child ticket will be £2 a day - down from £2.30.
In addition, the bus operator is introducing contactless weekly ticket price capping. This means customers just tap a contactless bank card (or the banking app on their phone) on the bus ticket machine each time they get on. At the end of seven days, they will be charged no more than the £15 cost of a weekly ticket - however many journeys they made. So customers’ savings kick in after travelling for just four days in that one week.
National Express Managing Director, David Bradford, said: “We’re delighted to be cutting bus fares to make it cheaper and easier to get around our region. The cost of everything - including motoring - is going up. But as of 19 July, half of bus customers will pay less than they do now, and nobody will pay more.
“Our bus fare cuts mean that travelling all day will cost less than the price of a burger.
“You will be able to catch as many buses as you like all day long and just tap a contactless card on the ticket machine. You don't need to work out what's the best price - we'll do that automatically and you'll never pay more than you need to.
“This makes it easier for people to try out catching the bus - and we know that when people try buses, they like them and keep using them.
“Getting more people onto buses will build back our high streets, get people back into jobs and education, clean up our air and help the UK meet its carbon targets.”
Andy Street, the Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “National Express’s fare cut is a fantastic decision that will help get our region back on the move as further restrictions are eased on Monday. Not only will all buses now be cheaper thanks to other operators following National Express’s lead, but they will be simpler to use too.
“Keeping fares low has always been one of my top transport priorities as Mayor, and I am delighted that over the last four years we’ve had a fare freeze, with the price of the most popular ticket - the day ticket – staying at the same price since 2017.
“Now, come Monday, we believe we will have the cheapest bus fares in England – saving the average commuter more than £130 every year.”