Bus passengers will be able to continue to travel anywhere for a maximum single fare of £2, a bus operator has announced.

Stagecoach said today it would be extending its maximum fare offer until the end of June next year.

The scheme has been running since January this year, and already 84 million people across the country have benefitted.

The £2 offer, part of the government’s Help for Households campaign, has helped bus customers save money, but has also boosted local economies and communities.

Stagecoach says it found 23% of its customers were saying they were now making trips they would otherwise not have made.

A similar proportion of customers reported they had switched some journeys from private vehicles to the bus, taking cars off the road and helping to reduce congestion and improve air quality for everyone.

Claire Miles, CEO of Stagecoach said: “We are delighted to continue our participation in the £2 fare offer until at least the end of June 2024, giving more people the chance to see where the bus can take them.

“Around 10 million people in England live within walking distance of one of our bus stops, so we’re hoping that people will take the opportunity to get out of their cars and give the bus a try for the bargain price of just £2 for a single ticket.”

The public transport provider has not been without its critics however with some calling into question the reliability of its timetable and issues related to overcrowding on services.

Stagecoach operates primarily in the east and south of the county running over 55 bus routes around Ashford, Canterbury, Dover, Deal, Faversham, Sittingbourne, Maidstone, Folkestone & Hythe, Herne Bay, Whitstable and Thanet.

Bus tickets can either be bought on the Stagecoach Bus App in advance of travel, or on the bus using contactless payment including Apple and Google.