How the SNP is making public transport more affordable
by As the Scottish Government the SNP has delivered another landmark milestone in making public transport accessible and affordable for all.
Following a successful launch in the Highlands and Islands, the Scottish Government has expanded the £2 bus fare cap to the entire Strathclyde region – covering Glasgow, Ayrshire, Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, Dunbartonshire, and Inverclyde.
This major milestone directly fulfills a key election manifesto commitment.
Combined with Scotland’s existing concessionary travel schemes, more than 2.6 million people – almost half of Scotland’s population – can now travel by bus either completely for free or for no more than £2.
At a time when households continue to face pressure from the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, First Minister John Swinney highlighted the SNP’s clear priorities:
The cost of living remains one of the biggest challenges facing households across Scotland, so making public transport more affordable is all the more important. The launch of the £2 Bus Fare Cap across Strathclyde means that more people can get where they need to go with more money in their pocket – that is clear action to help people save money during a cost-of-living crisis.John Swinney MSP
The initiative has earned strong support from key transport operators and grassroots campaigning groups across the sector.
Public transport advocacy campaign Get Glasgow Moving celebrated the rollout as a “massive win for our campaign which has long-fought for fairer fares.”
Andy Cullen, Regional Director of First Bus Scotland, warmly welcomed the expansion, noting: “We look forward to welcoming our regular customers on board and seeing more people discover the value of using the bus in their daily travel… reinforcing the important role of buses in keeping people, families and communities connected to jobs, education, training, healthcare and leisure.”
First Bus Scotland joins over 25 other private and local bus operators – including Stagecoach, McGill’s, Citylink, McColls, and West Coast Motors – who have partnered with Transport Scotland to make the reduced fare cap a reality for passengers.
The £2 fare cap is not an isolated initiative; it is part of a bold, progressive vision for Scotland’s public transport network.
While Westminster austerity continues to starve public services south of the border, the SNP as the Scottish Government consistently prioritises transport investments that support working families and protect our environment.
As well as our long-standing commitment to free bus travel, via the National Entitlement Card for older and disabled residents, we have introduced free bus travel for under-22s.
This makes Scotland the only part of the UK offering free nationwide bus travel to all young people under 22 – a game-changing policy that has saved families thousands of pounds and opened up opportunities for young workers and students.
And the implementation of the 2019 Transport (Scotland) Act gives local transport authorities the powers to franchise or bring bus services back into public hands to put community needs before private profit.
And it’s not just on buses we have introduced policies to support ordinary people.
In 2022, the SNP brought ScotRail back into public hands, ending decades of private profiteering and returning the focus to passenger reliability, safety, and investment.
This has allowed Scotland to lead the way in trialing and scrapping peak rail fares, removing the unfair “tax” on workers travelling during morning and evening rush hours.
When you compare Scotland’s record with policy decisions in England, the difference in political priorities could not be clearer as bus and rail fares vary by operator or are subject to duplicitous messaging.
The contrast in public transport policy highlights a fundamental truth – when decisions are made in Scotland, for Scotland, better outcomes follow.
Every step of the way, the SNP has used the limited powers of devolution to shield the people of Scotland from the damaging decisions taken at Westminster – from cruel austerity budgets to chaotic transport deregulation.
However, shielding the people of Scotland from Westminster indifference can only go so far.
To build a truly integrated, world-class transport system that serves every corner of our nation, Scotland needs the full financial and economic powers of an independent country.
The £2 bus fare cap rollout is a powerful reminder of what is possible under an SNP government – and a clear demonstration of why Scotland would be far better off taking its future into its own hands with full independence.