Concerns are growing in Herefordshire over whether the proposed £2 bus fare cap will benefit the county, as its two largest bus operators have yet to commit to the scheme. The cap, which will revert to £2 from the current £3 starting in January 2025, aims to make public transport more affordable for residents across England. However, Yeomans Travel and Sargeants Brothers—two of the largest bus companies in the region—have not yet signed up for the new fare structure. This has raised fears that Herefordshire may not see the same benefits as other areas where the cap is being implemented. Local officials have confirmed that Bromyard-based DRM will participate in the scheme, but independent councillor Nick Mason has warned that if other areas adopt the cap, fares in Herefordshire could remain higher than elsewhere. Tammy Gerber, from the local campaign group Buses4Us, emphasized the financial impact of the fare difference. She estimated that someone commuting five days a week could save up to £1,200 annually with the new cap. Gerber urged bus operators to commit to the scheme before January 2027 to prevent young people from being left behind due to high transport costs. Yeomans Travel currently operates 31 routes across Herefordshire, including services to Leominster, the north of the county, and the southwest. Sargeants Brothers runs 24 routes, primarily in and around Hereford and extending towards Wales. A spokesperson for Yeomans Travel said that the details of the government’s proposal are still evolving and that a final decision on participation will depend on data yet to be submitted. The spokesperson added that the company does not expect to receive the full proposal until late November. Sargeants Brothers has also been contacted for comment but has not yet responded. The uncertainty surrounding the fare cap has sparked discussions about the future of public transport in Herefordshire. With the current fare structure still in place, residents in areas not covered by the cap may continue to face higher costs. As the deadline approaches, local officials and campaigners are pushing for clarity and commitment from bus operators to ensure that the proposed fare cap benefits all residents in the county.