WARRINGTON Borough Council Leader, Cllr Hans Mundry, is welcoming a double boost for bus passengers in the borough, with free bus travel for children throughout August and the return of a £2 bus fare cap for all passengers from January 2027.
Children and young people in Warrington will benefit from free bus travel throughout August, thanks to a government-funded initiative designed to ease the cost of the school holidays.
The announcement comes alongside further positive news for bus passengers, with the Government confirming that single bus fares across England will be capped at £2 from January 2027, reducing the current national fare cap of £3 and helping make everyday travel more affordable for residents across the borough.
From 1 August to 31 August, all children aged five to 15 will be able to travel free of charge on participating local bus services, with no registration required and unlimited journeys available throughout the month.
The scheme forms part of the Government’s Great British Summer Savings package, backed by more than £100 million nationally to support families during the school break.
Local transport providers, including Warrington’s Own Buses, have confirmed they will take part in the initiative, ensuring that young people and families across the borough can take full advantage of the free travel offer.
The scheme is expected to deliver real savings for households, with ministers estimating that a family with two children could save around £27 over the course of the month if they regularly use local bus services.
As well as reducing costs, the initiative will help young people make the most of the summer holidays by making it easier to access parks, leisure facilities, libraries, town centres and community activities, while encouraging greater use of public transport.
The return of the £2 fare cap from January 2027 builds on the success of low-cost bus travel in Warrington. First launched in 2022 as part of Warrington’s Better by Bus programme, £2 fares proved extremely popular with passengers and were maintained locally until the end 2025, despite the national fare cap increasing from £2 to £3 at the end of 2024.
Cllr Mundry, said: “Free bus travel for children this August is great news for families across Warrington at a time when many are feeling the pressure of rising living costs. This initiative will provide a welcome boost over the summer holidays, helping parents to save money while ensuring children can get out, stay active and enjoy everything our borough has to offer.
“It will also make it easier for young people to stay connected with friends and family, access our parks, libraries and leisure facilities, and discover new opportunities close to home. By encouraging more people to use public transport, the scheme supports our wider ambition to create a greener, more accessible Warrington, and I’m pleased that local operators are working with us to make this happen.
“The announcement that the £2 bus fare cap will return from January 2027 is also very welcome news. We know from our Better by Bus programme just how popular and effective low-cost fares can be in helping people choose the bus for work, education, shopping and leisure. Bringing back the £2 fare cap will help make travel more affordable for residents, support household budgets and encourage even more people to make use of public transport.
“Taken together, free travel for children this summer and cheaper fares for all passengers from January represent a real boost for bus users in Warrington and demonstrate the important role that affordable public transport can play in connecting communities and supporting local growth.”
Ben Wakerley, Managing Director of Warrington’s Own Buses, added: “This is fantastic news for our passengers and the communities we serve. Free travel for children throughout August will help families get out and about during the school holidays, while also giving young people greater independence and the opportunity to explore everything Warrington has to offer.
“We’re also excited about the return of the £2 fare cap from January 2027. Affordable fares play a vital role in attracting more people onto the bus and support our work to make bus travel an accessible and attractive option for residents across the borough.”
The council is encouraging families to take advantage of the free travel scheme throughout August, explore the wide range of opportunities available across Warrington, and find out more about the places they can discover by bus. Residents can also look forward to the return of £2 fares from January 2027, helping to make bus travel a more affordable option for everyone.
For more information about free bus travel for children in August and the wider Great British Summer Savings Programme, visit costoflivinghelp.campaign.gov.uk/summer-savings
