England's bus fares are set to fall to £2 from the start of 2027, but uncertainty over whether Herefordshire's largest operators will participate threatens to leave the county's passengers paying significantly more than the rest of the country. Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham announced the reduction in July, yet two firms that run the majority of services in the county have not committed to joining the scheme.
Herefordshire's two dominant bus operators, Yeomans Travel and Sargeants Brothers, have raised doubts about their involvement in the new arrangement. Ledbury councillor Justine Peberdy, who chairs a group examining how the county's bus services can be improved, warned that
the price cap scheme "will not benefit Herefordshire unless our operators choose to participate in it".
Neither firm took part in the current £3 fare cap, and similar hesitation surrounds the new £2 scheme. Yeomans indicated it was gathering information before making a decision, while Sargeants did not respond to requests for comment. Only Bromyard-based DRM has confirmed it intends to participate, Peberdy said.
The government scheme runs from 1 January to 31 December 2027 on services outside London, replacing the current £3 cap. Herefordshire Council's transport pages still displayed information about the £3 arrangement as of late September 2026, with no confirmed rollout of the lower rate announced locally.
What would the financial impact be for passengers?
The difference between capped and uncapped fares could prove substantial for regular commuters. Tammy Gerber of local campaign group Buses4Us calculated that someone travelling five days a week within the county could face an additional £1,200 annually if operators opt out. Independent councillor Nick Mason described the prospect as
"horrendous" if the rest of the country took part but fares in Herefordshire cost more.
Which operators serve Herefordshire?
Sargeants currently operates 24 routes listed on the Herefordshire Council website, primarily serving Hereford and areas westwards towards and into Wales. Yeomans Travel runs 31 routes, including many serving villages around Hereford, connections to Leominster in the north, and services across the southwest of the county.
A Yeomans spokesperson explained that
with the details of the scheme "still evolving", the support on offer from the government would depend on data it had yet to submit. The company added:
"Consequently, a final decision on participation cannot be made at this point. We do not expect to receive the government's proposal until late November."
Herefordshire Council confirmed that several bus companies already participate in the current £3 scheme, while Yeomans Travel is no longer part of that government arrangement. This history of non-participation has fuelled concerns about whether the operator will embrace the new £2 cap.
What happens next?
Yeomans Travel indicated it expects to receive formal details from the government in late November, at which point it will make a final decision on whether to join the scheme. The £2 cap is scheduled to begin on 1 January 2027, leaving operators and the council little time to confirm participation before the new year. Gerber urged operators to
"get with the programme before January 2027 and not leave young people to find out the hard way that they've been left behind".
The uncertainty reflects a broader pattern: other operators across England, including Preston Bus, have also said they cannot yet decide on participation because reimbursement details have not been provided.
Key Facts
- The government's £2 bus fare cap applies only to operators who choose to participate; it runs from 1 January to 31 December 2027 outside London
- Yeomans Travel and Sargeants Brothers, which operate the majority of Herefordshire's bus services, have not committed to joining the scheme
- A regular commuter travelling five days a week could pay up to £1,200 more annually if operators in the county opt out
- Yeomans Travel does not expect to receive the government's formal proposal until late November 2026
- Only DRM, based in Bromyard, has confirmed it will participate in the new £2 cap
