Great Britain bus fares index
Great Britain bus fares index stood at 210.46 in Q2 2026, according to GOV.UK official statistics. It is one of the indicators in the Bus fares index table (Value · Quarterly), with a complete series running from Q1 2005 to Q2 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Bus fares index table
| Indicator | Q2-2026 | Q1-2026 | Q4-2025 | Q3-2025 | Q2-2025 | Q1-2025 | Q4-2024 | Q3-2024 | Q2-2024 | Q1-2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bus fares index | |||||||||||
| Great Britain | 210.46 | 209.43 | 207.57 | 207.4 | 206 | 202.6 | 192.9 | 192.8 | 190.3 | 189 | |
| England | 207.51 | 207.01 | 205.56 | 205.3 | 203.7 | 201.8 | 191.1 | 191 | 188.6 | 187.6 |
Understanding great Britain bus fares index
Evaluating passenger ticket price movements for scheduled local bus services across Great Britain, this aggregate index combines multi-operator data spanning urban and rural networks. The scope excludes Northern Ireland and long-distance coach travel, focusing strictly on local omnibus routes where regular commuters, students and concessionary passengers purchase single, return or multi-journey tickets. Distinguishing itself from region-specific indices, this measure provides the broadest geographic baseline for British public road transport pricing, capturing diverse local authority funding settlements, operator cost structures and fare-box strategies under a single unified benchmark.
Interpreting the series requires observing how administrative policy changes, such as fare capping schemes or subsidy adjustments, enter the calculation at specific index collection points. Analysts should favour twelve-month comparisons over quarter-on-quarter movements to smooth out regular annual ticket price revisions that operators typically implement on fixed calendar schedules. Methodological adjustments occasionally arise when ticketing structures evolve, meaning comparisons with older historical periods should account for shifts in how multi-trip products are weighted against standard single fares.
Frequently asked questions
- Does this series cover all public transport modes in Great Britain?
- No, the measure is restricted strictly to local bus services and excludes rail, underground, tram and long-distance coach networks.
- Why use a twelve-month comparison instead of looking at consecutive quarters?
- Bus operators typically alter their ticket prices once a year, making annual comparisons more reliable for spotting underlying pricing trajectories without seasonal distortion.
- How does this index handle promotional ticket offers or temporary fare reductions?
- Standard methodology tracks representative commercial fares available to general passengers, incorporating official government-backed fare capping initiatives where they directly alter standard ticket prices.