Fare Cap

A £3 fare gets you there!

Whether you travel for your daily commute, heading to the shops, spending time with friends or seeing new places, now’s the perfect time to get on board with buses. Designed to make travel more affordable for everyone, when you board a bus on participating routes, you’ll pay no more than £3 for a single journey, no matter the distance.

It’s better by bus!

Not only does the £3 single fare help you save money while leaving the car at home, there’s no need to worry about parking or fuel costs. It’s a great way to keep more pounds in your pocket, reduce your carbon footprint, and enjoy the convenience of local bus services.

How does it work?

It couldn’t be simpler – you don’t need a special ticket, pass or card to enjoy £3 fares, they’re automatically applied when you pay for your journey!

  • The £3 single fare cap applies to each single journey made with any participating operator.
  • If you change buses, the £3 fare applies to each bus you travel on, even if it’s with the same company.
  • Free fares or those below £3 remain unchanged so you won’t pay more than usual for your journey.
  • Tickets for return journeys are purchased separately.

The £3 Bus Fare Cap Grant runs until 31st December 2025 and is supported by the HM Government’s Help for Households scheme which is designed to support families and help spread the cost of living by offering affordable travel options.

Start planning my journey

Where can I go with my £3 fare?

Here’s some inspiration for places around Suffolk you could get to in around an hour and on just one bus. Hop on board and see how easy and affordable bus travel can be!

Eligible Routes

Enjoy great value travel across Suffolk with the £3 single fare cap, available on most local bus services run by participating operators in the county. Operators taking part include BorderBus, First Bus, Ipswich Buses, Konectbuses (formerly known as Chambers), Our Hire, Simonds, Stagecoach and Stephensons.
Please note that school routes and special event services are usually not covered, so their single fares may be higher than £3. To check whether a specific journey is covered, please contact the relevant bus operator – you can find the contact details on the contacts page.

Where can I find more inspiration?

Visit Good Journey Suffolk, the website dedicated to helping you plan car-free, care-free travels around the region.

The best of what Suffolk has to offer is within your reach by train, bus, bike and foot – Good Journey puts planning sustainable travel at your fingertips, so you can sit back, relax and enjoy the ride.

Find out more

Plan my journey

Suffolk On Board’s handy journey planner helps you work out the best routes for getting you to your destination – just check your operator is part of the £3 fare scheme before travelling.

Terms & Conditions

  1. Eligibility: The £3 fare applies to single bus journeys on participating routes across Suffolk. This offer is available to all passengers, including adults and children.
  2. Validity Period: The £3 fare scheme runs from 1st January 2024 until 31st December 2025. This may be extended at the government’s discretion.
  3. Participating Operators: Only bus operators participating in the government’s £3 fare cap scheme are included. Check the website of local operators for full details.
  4. Journey Type: The £3 fare applies to single journeys only. Return tickets, day passes, and other ticket types are not included. Fares for journeys beginning after midnight or on bank holidays are included, subject to operator schedules.
  5. Exclusions: Certain longer-distance or premium services may be excluded from the scheme. Please check with your bus operator before travelling.
  6. Contactless and Cash Payments: The £3 fare can be paid by both cash and contactless payment methods, where available. Please check with your operator for payment options.
  7. Refunds: No refunds or compensation will be provided for any unused or partially used £3 tickets. Tickets purchased under the £3 fare scheme are non-transferable.
  8. Changes and Cancellations: Service availability, fares, and schedules are subject to change. Suffolk on Board and participating operators reserve the right to modify or withdraw this scheme at any time, in line with government policy or operational needs.
  9. Other Offers: This fare scheme cannot be combined with other promotions, discounts, or concessions, including group discounts and student fares, unless explicitly stated.
  10. Accessibility: Scheduled bus services are required to have step-free access and wheelchair provision by law. Users who need additional support to travel should contact their local Connecting Communities provider. Unfortunately the £3 cap does not apply on those services. For more details, refer to the government’s guidance on the £3 bus fare cap here.

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