Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to make public transport affordable for young people.

The Government knows how important affordable public transport services are in enabling young people to get to education, work and access vital services.

The Government has taken action to keep the cost of bus travel lower by introducing a £3 cap on single fares in England outside London, and confirmed at the Spending Review that this would be extended until March 2027. At present, the majority of bus services operate on a commercial basis by private operators, and any decisions regarding the level at which fares are set outside the scope of the Government’s £3 bus fare cap are commercial decisions for operators. Bus operators can choose to offer discounted fares for young people, and in the year ending March 2025, youth discounts were offered by at least one commercial bus operator in 73 out of 85 local authority areas in England outside London.

As part of the Autumn 2024 Budget, the Government allocated over £1 billion to support and improve bus services in 2025/26. This includes £712 million for local authorities, which can be used to expand services and improve reliability, which are currently massive obstacles for too many people. Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority has been allocated £10.6 million of this funding. Funding allocated to local authorities to deliver better bus services can be used in whichever way they wish to improve services for passengers, which could include introducing new fares initiatives to reduce the cost of bus travel for young people.

With regard to rail, under-16s receive 50 per cent off all adult rail fares, and the 16-17 Saver railcard extends this discount to 16 and 17-year-olds. Season tickets purchased with a valid 16-17 Saver can be used for an additional 4 months after the railcard expires, to help make rail travel more affordable for young people who remain in education past their 18th birthday.