Andy Burnham's bus fare cap: Call made to spend any extra funding for Northern Ireland on public transport

Retail NI chief executive Glyn Roberts made the comments as the new Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced he was capping bus fares in much of England at £2.

The government has said that “currently, fares have been capped at £3 until the end of March 2027” but now a cap of £2 will kick in from January until the end of 2027.

The cap only applies to single tickets, not returns, and covers “participating buses... in all areas of England outside of London”.

The cap in England is expected to cost the government about £500m, and it said in a statement: “The devolved governments will receive funding through the Barnett formula in the usual way.”

The BBC has reported that the resulting funding for Northern Ireland is likely to be between £10m and £15m.

Earlier in the year, it had been reported that Translink way considering making £10m-worth of cuts.

Mr Roberts said today: "The Prime Minister's decision to cap bus fares in England is a welcome step.

"Good, reliable and affordable public transport is essential to supporting our local high streets and town centres.

"The Executive should ring-fence the Barnett consequential funding arising from this decision and invest it in Northern Ireland's public transport network.

"This would help deliver more affordable fares, improve services and provide greater choice for consumers.

"Public transport should be the first choice – not the last – for people travelling to work, shopping or visiting our high streets.

"Investing in affordable, accessible transport is an investment in the future of our local economy."

Anthony Flynn, a Green councillor for the Ormiston district in the far east of Belfast said if Northern Ireland ends up getting £10m-£15m in extra funding, “then every penny of that funding should be invested in public transport here in Northern Ireland”.

He added: “At a time when Translink is consulting on service cuts, fare increases and reductions in concessions, there could hardly be a clearer case for using this money to protect and improve our public transport network…

"If this new money exists because of investment in buses elsewhere, the Executive should use it to invest in buses and public transport here."

Translink told the News Letter: “The announcement by the UK Government relates to bus services in England and any consequential funding for Northern Ireland will be a matter for the Northern Ireland Executive to consider as part of its wider budget priorities.

“Translink remains committed to supporting the delivery of the Northern Ireland Executive's public transport objectives and would work closely with the Department for Infrastructure on the implementation of any future policy decisions.”

And the Department for Infrastructure said in a statement: “ At the start of this financial year, the minister announced her decision to freeze bus and train fares for the second consecutive year.

"This decision recognised the importance of keeping public transport affordable for passengers in the context of rising fuel and oil prices and provided certainty at a challenging financial time.

"A budget for 2026-27 or beyond has not yet been agreed, therefore no further decisions have been taken in relation to bus and train fares.”