Senedd election: Welsh Labour pledges £2 bus fare cap

Welsh Labour pledges to cap single bus fares at £2 from April 2027 for people aged 22–59 and to introduce 100 new bus routes between 2027 and 2030.

Welsh Labour has pledged to cap single bus fares at £2 and to expand the bus network if it continues to lead the Welsh government after the Senedd election. Transport Secretary Ken Skates said the cap would start in April 2027 for people aged 22 to 59 and that the package would accompany a major expansion of services. The party proposes 100 new bus routes across Wales between 2027 and 2030 and says the changes would use powers in the Bus Services (Wales) Bill. Rival parties questioned Labour's record on connectivity as the pledge became a headline part of the campaign ahead of the May vote. Key details: - Labour proposes a £2 single-fare cap from April 2027 for people aged 22–59. - The party plans to introduce 100 new bus routes across Wales between 2027 and 2030. - Transport Secretary Ken Skates estimated the cap and expansion would cost about £35m a year. - Single fares are already limited to £1 for under-21s and bus travel is free for over-60s in Wales. - The changes would make use of powers in the Bus Services (Wales) Bill, which passed its final stage in the Senedd last month. Summary: If Labour remains in office, the party says the £2 cap would take effect in April 2027 alongside a sizeable route expansion; implementation depends on election results and later decisions. Political opponents have criticised Labour's record on connectivity, and the pledge is a prominent element of campaigning ahead of the Senedd vote on 7 May.