The Tiger Bus Pass, which reduces bus fares to £1 for under-25s in Cambridge and Peterborough, has been extended until March 2027.

Cambridge and Peterborough Combined Authority confirmed the extension, which coincides with the end of the national £3 cap on bus fares, last week (18/12).

The Tiger Bus Pass was launched in May 2024 by former Labour mayor Nik Johnson. Since then, over 60,000 passes have been issued and more than 3.2 million journeys have been made using the pass.

The report put before the Combined Authority on 18 December shows that Cambridgeshire County Council is being asked to provide £200,000 towards the maintenance of the scheme.

Full details of the funding have not been set out, with much of it remaining confidential. However, the report does indicate that the Combined Authority will underwrite the remaining shortfall.

Paul Bristow, Cambridge and Peterborough’s current Conservative mayor, commented: “I’m pleased the Board has agreed my plan to secure the pass for as long as the Government supports the current national bus fare cap level.

“I’m committed to working with members, operators and partners on a longer-term plan that keeps reduced fares for young people as a permanent fixture in our transport network.”

Councillor Cameron Holloway, the Labour leader of Cambridge City Council, said: “Cambridge City Council has been consistently clear that we would not support any cuts to the Tiger Pass in its current form – it’s just too important for that.”

Cambridge students have also welcomed the extension. Ian, a fourth-year engineering student at Sidney Sussex commented: “I’m glad to hear the Tiger bus pass is being continued. I use it a lot and it’s been really helpful. I like walking, but the bus is great when I haven’t got time to walk all the way to West Cambridge.”

Alex, a fourth-year HML student at Sidney Sussex, said: “I feel like not enough students know about the bus pass. While as a humanities student, I rarely have too far to travel, I’ve used the bus to get to the station, the football stadium, and friends living in the outskirts. It really makes those journeys that much cheaper”.

Labour councillor Anna Smith, the City Council’s board representative, was involved in the Tiger Pass’ inception. She said on Facebook: “I have heard from so many young people, their families, their schools, and their employers about how vital this pass is […] We must now work to make sure that the full pass is retained beyond April 2027.”

The announcement comes amid ongoing strike action by around 200 Stagecoach East bus drivers in Cambridge, which is expected to continue into January.

Earlier in the month, the drivers voted to reject a deal that would reduce overtime rates by 12% on weekdays, and 20% on weekends and bank holidays. Further talks between Stagecoach East and the union are set to take place on Monday (29/12).