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As we enter 2026, the UK’s bus network is facing a critical test. While buses remain one of the most affordable and inclusive ways to commute, recent data suggests progress made after the pandemic may be stalling, or even reversing, at the very moment reliability and sustainability matter most.
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Almost 2,000 bus routes were cut in 2024 alone - the equivalent of five bus routes disappearing every day across the UK.
Rising Fares, Falling Bus Commuting
In January 2025, the UK government increased the national single bus fare cap in England from £2 to £3, following the expiry of the £2 cap introduced in early 2023. The policy was supported by over £1 billion in government funding aimed at preventing sharp fare increases and sustaining services.
Despite this investment, the fare rise represented a 50% increase per journey for many commuters - and early behavioural signals suggest it mattered.
According to the Commuter Census 2025, the proportion of commutes made by bus fell to just over 8%, down from 9.9% in 2024, ending three consecutive years of steady growth in bus commuting
While hybrid working continues to suppress traditional peak demand, this drop reinforces a consistent finding in transport research: bus use is highly price and reliability sensitive.
A Shrinking Network Undermines Confidence
Affordability is only one part of the picture. Availability is just as important.
Research debated in the House of Commons in 2025 showed that more than 10,500 bus services were withdrawn between 2019 and 2024, with almost 2,000 routes cut in 2024 alone - the equivalent of five bus routes disappearing every day across the UK
Official Department for Transport statistics reinforce this trend, showing that bus mileage and service coverage remain below pre-pandemic levels, even as passenger numbers slowly recover.
For commuters, this erosion reduces trust. For operators, it reflects a harsh reality: fixed costs, fluctuating demand, and fragile route economics make marginal services difficult to sustain.
Why This Matters for Business and the Public Sector
For employers, local authorities, and transport leaders, this is not simply a transport issue, it’s a workforce, productivity, and sustainability challenge.
- Employees need reliable, predictable commutes to support return-to-office strategies
- Operators need financially viable routes that reflect hybrid demand
- Authorities need lower emissions without pricing people out of public transport
As explored in Liftango’s Commuting Conundrum: Sustainable Return to Office, commuting behaviour today is shaped as much by confidence and convenience as by cost:
How Do We Fix This? Smarter Routes, Not Just Subsidies
The solution isn’t endless subsidy - it’s optimisation.
Supporting commuters means ensuring bus routes run where and when people actually need them. Supporting operators means giving them the data and tools to keep routes viable before they’re cut.
This is where fixed-route optimisation technology plays a critical role.
With solutions like Liftango Fixed Route, operators and authorities can:
- Track real-world demand and performance
- Optimise routes and timetables based on usage
- Report on emissions, ridership, and cost efficiency
- Intervene early to prevent route closures
Learn more about Liftango Fixed Route here: https://www.liftango.com/fixed-route
As detailed in Beyond the Subsidy Trap, financially sustainable public transport depends on engineering efficiency into operations, not reacting after services fail.
A Turning Point for 2026
The UK is not destined for a commuter bus crisis - but the warning signs are clear.
If 2025 showed us anything, it’s that fare caps alone won’t save buses. Reliability, confidence, and intelligent network design will.
The challenge for 2026 is simple:
How do we support commuters with dependable bus services, while giving operators the tools they need to keep routes sustainable and open?
That’s not just a transport question - it’s a leadership one.
