The Scottish Government is expanding the £2 bus fare cap — but Stirling, Fife and Tayside are still waiting.
What is live now
Eligible single adult and child fares are capped at £2 on participating services in:
Tell the driver your destination when you board. If the whole trip is inside a capped area, you pay no more than £2. Cross both Strathclyde and Highlands and Islands without entering another regional partnership area and you can pay up to £4. Change buses and you pay again. Night buses, tours and some premium services are usually excluded.
Under-22s and other concessionary travellers keep using their National Entitlement Card for free travel — the cap is for everyone else on participating services.
What was announced this month
On 17 October 2026 the First Minister confirmed the next phase: Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire from April 2027. That extends the cap into the north-east after Highlands and Strathclyde.
There is still no date for Tayside, Fife or Stirling. Ministers say a nationwide £2 cap is planned by the end of this Parliament, with further detail to follow.
What that means if you ride from Stirling
Local Midland Bluebird and Stagecoach singles in Stirling and Clackmannanshire are not in the capped scheme yet. Longer trips into the SPT area may get the £2 rate only for the capped section — the rest of the fare is charged normally. Always check with the operator before you travel.
How BusLine helps
Fares change by area and operator. Live times and the map do not replace the ticket machine — but they do show which bus is next so you are not standing at the stop on yesterday’s timetable. Open live times near you, or plan the journey, then confirm the fare with the driver or operator app.
We will update this post when Stirling, Fife or Tayside join the £2 cap.
