DESPITE being rolled out only a few months ago, the £2 bus fare cap trial in the Highlands and Islands is already being hailed as a “great success” with transport firms seeing a surge in passengers.
In March, the Scottish Government launched its year-long pilot where people across the Highlands, Moray, Orkney and Argyll and Bute will be able to travel across the north of Scotland by bus for just £2.
It followed a successful launch of the scheme in Shetland in January and the Western Isles in February.
The pilot aims to make bus travel easier and cheaper by capping the maximum single adult bus fare at £2, with participating operators reimbursed by Transport Scotland.
For example, a single adult fare from Elgin to Inverness previously cost £15.60, but under the new scheme it would be capped at £2.
Although the scheme has been in place for less than six months for the majority of the Highlands and islands, more than 800,000 journeys have been made since its introduction.
The Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership (HITRANS), which is spearheading the campaign, told The National that although it is still early days into the pilot, the data is already proving positive, with its partners saying it has helped “remove barriers to bus travel” for those from lower-income families.
“The bus fare cap pilot has been a great success in the Highlands and Islands,” HITRANS partnership director Ranald Robertson told The National.
“It makes bus travel cheaper and more accessible, particularly for lower-income families.
“It also encourages greater use of public transport and strengthens the sustainability of local bus services, particularly in rural areas.
“Since the £2 cap pilot went live in Shetland in January, and later rolled out across the Highlands and Islands, more than 800,000 journeys have been made.”
Robertson said the cap has led to a “significant rise” in passengers using the Highland Council’s in-house bus services, but added that numbers have also increased due to seven new routes being introduced.
Since the £2 single journey cap was introduced in April, the Highland Council’s fare-paying passenger figures in the first month of the pilot rose by 25% and by 36% in May compared to last year’s passenger figures.
Data shared with The National from the local authority showed that some routes on the council’s in-house bus services have seen an increase as much as 272% from the previous year.
Among the highest increases in passenger numbers in April in comparison to last year were the 425 Alness service at 118%, the 251 to Nairn at 100% and the 107 Slackbuie at 89%.
Meanwhile, in May, the 312 Ft Augustus saw an increase of 272% from the same month last year, with the 44, 46 and 48 all increasing by 100% and the 106 Dalneigh route seeing a rise in customers by 102%.
According to HITRANS data, the number of passengers paying the £2 fare on council-run buses rose from 1631 in April 2025 to 5727 in April 2026.
Meanwhile, May 2025 to 2026 saw a rise from 2026 to 6388 and June from 1698 to 6586.
In July 2025, cash-paying passengers totalled 2605, compared to 7829 so far in July 2026.
But it isn’t just the local authority’s own bus services which are seeing an increase in passenger numbers as according to Robertson, Ember buses has stated the trial has already led to a 10-15% rise across its Highlands and Argyll and Bute services.
Robertson added that although Stagecoach said no stats are available at this stage, the initiative has “definitely helped make bus travel more affordable for customers” in the communities it serves across the Highlands, Moray and Orkney.
He added that the firm reaffirmed its support of measures that “improve affordability and remove barriers to bus travel”.
The pilot scheme capping bus fares is backed by a £10 million investment as part of the 2025/26 Budget, which was secured by the Scottish Greens during Budget negotiations.
It is set to be in place for 12 months.
Currently under 22s and over 60s can travel on buses for free in Scotland.
