Young people in Scotland have saved hundreds of pounds on travel costs under the SNP’s free bus travel scheme, as new analysis highlights the growing contrast with rising transport costs faced by under 22s in England.
Independent analysis by the House of Commons Library shows more than 274 million free bus journeys have been taken by Scotland’s 1.3 million under 22s since the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme was introduced in 2022.
The figures include more than 62 million journeys taken between 1 April and 31 December in the current financial year.
The research estimates that the average three mile bus journey in the UK costs £2.47, meaning young people in Scotland have saved around £680 million since the scheme began, or an average of £521 per person.
In contrast, young people in England continue to pay significant travel costs following the UK Labour government’s decision not to introduce free bus travel for under 22s.
There are around 15 million under 22s in England, with many students paying close to or more than £1,000 a year for an annual bus pass depending on location and operator.
Examples include annual student passes costing £1,005 in Kent and Medway, £920 across South East England, £1,332 in South West England, £965 in the West of England and £879 in parts of North West England.
For under 22s who are working rather than studying, the cost can be higher still, with adult annual bus passes costing up to £1,570 in parts of South East England and £1,488 in North West England.
The Labour Party pledged to introduce free bus travel for under 22s in England in 2018 but later dropped the commitment under Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
In August, the UK Parliament’s Transport Select Committee called on the UK government to pilot free bus travel for under 22s, warning that high fares remain a major barrier to education, training and employment for young people.
Those recommendations were rejected by the UK government in October, prompting criticism from the committee’s chair.
Separate analysis published last week shows that students in Scotland graduate with significantly lower debt than those in England, with an average difference of £35,020.
In 2025, students in England graduated with an average debt of £53,010, compared with £17,990 for graduates in Scotland.
Commenting, SNP transport spokesperson Graham Leadbitter said:
“Voting SNP on 7th May is the only way to guarantee that young people in Scotland will continue to benefit from free bus travel and other SNP policies like free University tuition.
“Under John Swinney’s SNP government, young Scots are saving thousands of pounds compared to those living under Keir Starmer’s Labour government in England, with more than 274million free bus journeys taken since the SNP introduced free bus travel for under-22s.
“In contrast, the Labour Party broke their promises and scrapped free bus travel for young people in England.
“It means many are forced to spend over £1000 a year just to travel to their workplace, college or university adding to the financial burden for families.
“Young people in Scotland are also saving more than £35,000 on average as a result of the SNP’s policy of free University tuition.
“In contrast, students in England leave University with three times more debt as a result of the Labour Party’s broken promises on fees.
“Under the Labour government, the cost of living has soared for everyone.
“Energy bills are around £500 higher than promised, food prices have gone through the roof, UK unemployment has risen to a five-year high, and families are struggling from payday to payday.
“The SNP has delivered the best cost of living support for young people and families anywhere in the UK, while the Labour Party has taken Broken Brexit Britain from bad to worse and proven they can’t be trusted to keep their promises on anything.
“By voting SNP on 7th May, Scotland can sack Keir Starmer, protect young people, prioritise the cost of living and secure a fresh start with independence.”
