A CAP of £2 on single bus fares in Shetland came into force today as part of the first phase in a Scottish government pilot scheme.

ZetTrans, the public body responsible for transport on Shetland, is the first to roll-out a year-long trial as part of a regional pilot which neighbouring body HiTrans hope to extend to Highland, Moray, Argyll and Bute, the Western Isles and Orkney later this year.

Welcoming the move, backed by £10 million in the Scottish government’s draft budget, SNP transport secretary Fiona Hyslop said she hoped it would be “another way to make public transport more available, accessible and affordable.”

She added: “I look forward to seeing how it supports sustainable travel across these regions.”

ZetTrans chairwoman councillor Moraig Lyall said: “We’ve discussed for some time what difference altering the fare structure would make in the uptake of using buses in Shetland, and this pilot will help answer that question.

“I would hope that more people would see the bus as an affordable alternative to their car and those without their own transport will be enabled to travel more frequently.”