A BUS operator in Dorset is set to cap their single bus fares at £2 this winter.

Morebus has signed up to the Department for Transport (DfT) scheme, which will restrict the cost of a single ticket between Sunday, January 1 and Friday, March 31.

It will mean bus passengers in Dorset can travel on any single journey across the region for £2 or less.

Morebus hope the scheme will encourage people to leave their cars at home and opt for more sustainable transport instead.

Andrew Wickham, Morebus managing director, said: “We have long said that buses are the perfect solution to helping reduce congestion on our roads, and improving the air we breathe here in Bournemouth, Poole and the surrounding area - so we are delighted the government is echoing this way of thinking.

“A bus has the potential to take up to 75 cars off the road, and we have ensured the many new vehicles added to our fleet in recent years are fitted with low emissions Euro 6 engines, to minimise their effects on the local environment.

‘We’re looking forward to welcoming many new customers on-board over the coming months.”

Morebus added that they had worked hard to make their buses an “attractive” option for people, welcoming newer buses with comfortable seating, USB chargers for phones and tablets, and the latest payment technology on-board.

Buses minister, Richard Holden, said: “Bus travel remains the most popular form of public transport in England, making up around half of all journeys. That’s why we’re investing £60 million to cap single bus fares at £2 to support every passenger and help get people back on the bus.

“With the scheme set to take two million car journeys off the road, it’s fantastic to see so many bus operators signing up to the fare cap, helping people to ‘Get Around for £2’ between January 1 and March 31.”

For more information about routes and timetables, please visit morebus.co.uk