The Jurassic Coast bus route between Axminster and Weymouth, taking in Lyme Regis, Bridport, Buton Bradstock and Abbotsbury, has been named as one of the most scenic in England by The Times. 

First Bus' X53 route was described in The Times as "an exhilarating two-hour journey… cruising over rollercoaster downs with sea views and squeezing through honey-stoned streets".

It added: "On the top deck you are level with straw animals on thatched cottage roofs and can peer into gardens full of Spanish daisies. 

"The bus rolls over a headland to reveal the hilltop St Catherine's Chapel in Abbotsbury, backed by Fleet Lagoon."

Passengers can now enjoy the scenic route for just £2, thanks to a government cap on bus fares that has now been extended until the end of June. 

Millions of passengers across England will benefit from £155million government support to cap bus fares at £2, maintain services and ensure people can travel affordably. 

The Transport Secretary has confirmed £80million from April 1 to June 30 to protect vital bus services people rely on for work, education, medical appointments and shopping. 

The government has also announced plans to provide up to £75million so that bus operators can continue to cap single bus fares outside of London at £2 until the end of June, saving passengers money and encouraging more people back on the bus. The scheme was initially set to finish at the end of March. 

With the average single local bus ticket costing £2.80, passengers can save almost a third of the ticket price.

The announcement has been welcomed by West Dorset MP Chris Loder, who commented: "This is good news for communities across West Dorset. I have long argued that significant steps were needed from the government to foster increased bus usage after the cliff-edge fall in demand throughout the covid pandemic. 

"The government is now recognising the pressure I have been applying to encourage the rejuvenation of rural bus services with this much needed boost."

During the pandemic, bus usage dropped as low as 10% of pre-pandemic levels, and the government has provided unprecedented financial support totalling more than £2billion since March 2020. 

With bus patronage still at around 85-90% of pre-Covid levels, there are a number of ongoing challenges for bus operators. The government is working closely with the sector on the challenges they face with changing travel patterns since the pandemic and will continue to work on delivering the National Bus Strategy. 

The government's existing £60 million investment to cap single bus fares has already shown early signs of increased bus use, with an independent survey of 1,000 people from passenger watchdog Transport Focus showing 7% of people saying they are using the bus more. 

During these difficult economic times, these trends already indicate that the government's support to cap fares is a welcome intervention, helping families, commuters and all passengers to ease with the cost of living. 

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: "I want to make bus travel affordable for all, that's why we're continuing to cap fares at £2 and protecting local routes, ensuring we have a modern and efficient network that's accessible for everyone.

"Getting more people onto reliable and affordable buses will strengthen communities and help grow the economy – connecting people to jobs, driving pensioners to see friends and family, and helping people attend medical appointments or access education.

"I'm determined to ensure that no matter where you live, you have the same opportunities to get around easily and can feel pride in your local area – which is why protecting our local bus services is so important."

Transport Secretary Mark Harper added: "Travelling by bus remains the most popular option for commuters and families across the country, but the sector is still trying to recover after the end of the pandemic. 

"We're providing £155 million to help passengers save money on fares, get more people on the bus and protect vital bus routes – helping with the cost of living and enabling people to get where they need to in an affordable and convenient way."