Big changes could be coming to how UK public transport is priced
Key Points
- The Transport Committee has opened an inquiry into government intervention in fares and ticketing
- MPs will assess whether recent fare interventions had clear goals and delivered results
- The £2 bus fare cap in England returns in January and runs throughout 2027
- The inquiry will also consider who should have the power to set fares
- The deadline to submit evidence is 13 November 2026
The House of Commons Transport Committee has launched an inquiry into government control of fares and ticketing.
The inquiry, titled “Fare play? Government’s role in ticketing and pricing”, will examine what objectives the government should pursue when it intervenes in fares.
MPs will also assess whether recent interventions had clear goals and whether they actually delivered on them.
The committee said it will study how price changes influence the way people choose to travel. It will also consider how fare policy can support both passengers and financially sustainable transport networks.
The committee said the inquiry will explore:
- How the government intervenes in public transport fares;
- What outcomes the government seeks from its fare strategies, and whether it sets out and delivers them effectively;
- What wider benefits the government could pursue, and how it could intervene to achieve them.
The inquiry follows Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s announcement, on his second full day in office, that the £2 bus fare cap in England will return. The cap will come back in January and stay in place throughout 2027.
The government also recently announced plans to let disabled people across England travel by bus for free at any time of day.
Rail fares have seen several interventions in recent years, including a freeze on regulated fares from March 2026 to March 2027. The Scottish Government has permanently scrapped peak fares on ScotRail services.
The committee previously examined bus fares and concessions in its Buses Connecting Communities inquiry. Its August 2025 report called on the Department for Transport and local transport authorities to set clear strategic priorities for bus fares.
“The Prime Minister has rightly said that good, affordable, transport links are essential, but what should be driving the government’s approach to pricing and ticketing?” said Ruth Cadbury, Chair of the Transport Committee.
“We will explore how ticket prices influence transport choices, how fare policy can support both passengers and financially sustainable transport networks, and how fare interventions can generate wider benefits for the public purse,” Cadbury said.
“Our inquiry comes as responsibility for local public transport becomes increasingly devolved and rail services are transitioning into Great British Railways,” she added.
Cadbury said the committee will also consider who should hold the power to set fares.
