£2 Bus Fare Cap Pilot
How it works
The £2 Bus Fare Cap Pilot aims to help make your travel easier and cheaper with a simple £2 fare. There’s no need to apply and no requirement to live locally. Simply board a participating bus service, pay your fare, and enjoy your journey for no more than £2.
The 12 month pilot is being introduced on a phased basis, operating in:
- Shetland from 30 January 2026
- the Western Isles from 23 February 2026
- Orkney from 9 March 2026
- Highland, Moray, and Argyll and Bute from 23 March 2026
Why we’re running the pilot
Supported by £10 million of investment, the £2 Bus Fare Cap Pilot is a 12‑month programme introducing a clear, capped £2 fare across the Highlands and Islands in Scotland. The pilot brings together the Scottish Government, HiTrans, ZetTrans and local bus operators, delivering on a key commitment in the 2025/26 Scottish Budget.
The pilot aims to make bus travel:
- More affordable, particularly for lower‑income households
- Easier to use, with clear, simple pricing
- More appealing, encouraging more people to choose public transport
- More resilient, supporting local bus services across the region
Shetland
From 30 January 2026, single bus fares on participating routes in Shetland cost no more than £2. This applies to single adult or child fares.
The 12 month pilot is intended to end in January 2027. However, funding is limited so the pilot timescales are subject to change depending on the level of passenger demand. If this changes, we will update advice on this webpage.
Participating services
Registered local bus services where the operator has agreed to take part in the pilot are eligible. Premium fare services are excluded from the pilot, such as tour buses, night services or private-hire services.
If you are unsure, contact the bus operator directly. ZetTrans have confirmed the services included across the Shetland Islands are;
- J & DS Halcrow services 1/1s, 6, 6A, 9, 12 and 19
- J & K Scollay service 34
- Johnson Transport services 22, 25 and 39
- K & K Transport services 9/9A, 14 and 18
- Martins Car Hire services 21F and 33
- R Robertson & Son services 1, 4, 6, 17, 20, 21, 23, 24V, 24Y, 28, 29, 30, 31, 37, 38, 71, 72R, 81 and 82
- Sinclairs Taxis services 41, 42, 65 and 90
- Wastbus services 12C, 13 and 92
- Whites Coaches services 12F and 15
- Wilma Ann Nicolson services 10, 91 and 94.
Highlands and Islands
The Western Isles
From 23 February 2026, single bus fares on participating routes in the Western Isles cost no more than £2. This applies to single adult or child fares.
The 12 month pilot is intended to end in February 2027. However, funding is limited so the pilot timescales are subject to change depending on the level of passenger demand. If this changes, we will update advice on this webpage.
Registered local bus services where the operator has agreed to take part in the pilot are eligible. Premium fare services are excluded from the pilot, such as tour buses, night services or private-hire services.
If you are unsure, contact the bus operator directly to check if your route is included.
Orkney
From 9 March 2026, single bus fares on participating routes in Orkney cost no more than £2. This applies to single adult or child fares.
The 12 month pilot is intended to end in March 2027. However, funding is limited so the pilot timescales are subject to change depending on the level of passenger demand. If this changes, we will update advice on this webpage.
Registered local bus services where the operator has agreed to take part in the pilot are eligible. Premium fare services are excluded from the pilot, such as tour buses, night services or private-hire services.
If you are unsure, contact the bus operator directly to check if your route is included.
Highlands
The pilot is being rolled out in phases. It launched in Shetland on 30 January 2026, the Western Isles on 23 February 2026 and Orkney on 9 March. It will be introduced in Highland, Moray, Argyll and Bute from 23 March.
Help
Participating routes
If you are unsure if your route is included, contact your operator directly to check.
General enquiries
For general information on the pilot contact us using the details below:
£2 Bus Fare Cap Pilot
Transport Scotland
177 Bothwell Street
Glasgow G2 7ER
Stakeholders
Our Stakeholder toolkit provides information and resources for key stakeholders (such as bus operators and local councils) and other organisations to assist in their marketing and communications about the pilot.