Exeter Bus Users Protected by Price Freezes
Regular bus users in Exeter are to be protected by a price freeze later this month as Stagecoach South West raise bus fares by an average of 2.6%.
Under the plans the Exeter Dayrider, Exeter Megarider Plus tickets and the unlimited day travel Explorer tickets as well as most of the region’s megarider tickets will see their prices frozen in an effort to limit the affect of the price on regular bus users.
Exeter Stagecoach will also be trialling a simplified fare structure removing all return fares in the City, leaving just four adult single fares which ranging in price from £1.00 to £2.80.
Stagecoach said today that changes are a result of continued rising costs – including labour, energy, fuel and insurance costs - and reduced public sector investment in bus services leaving the operator having no choice but to increase some fares.
Michael Watson, Managing Director of Stagecoach South West, said: "We are pleased to be able to freeze fares for many of our most frequent customers. We know fare changes are frustrating for our passengers. However, we have done our best to keep fare changes to a minimum in the face of rising costs across a number of areas of our business.
“We are continuing to see reduced public sector support for bus services as local authority budgets continue to be squeezed.
“We have worked hard to keep fares down for those who rely on the bus the most. As the cost of motoring remains high, our bus services continue to offer a greener, smarter and better value way to travel and we are committed to re-investing income from fares in new vehicles and further improvements for passengers."
The rise, to average around 2.6%, will come into effect from 28 April and will see single and return fares on most services rise so occasional service users will likely pay more for bus travel.
The standard week-long Exeter Megarider will also see a slight rise from £13.50 to £14.00.
However with Exeter Dayrider tickets frozen at £3.60 and the introduction of a new Child Dayrider, to cost £2.80, Stagecoach say that the rise will have a reduced effect on regular bus users.
Despite the increase, Stagecoach still remains the cheapest major bus company operating in the UK, with prices up to 20% lower than other companies.
Elsewhere on the south west bus network the Somerset 4 week tickets plus 1, 4 and 13 week Torbay Megariders will see a price freeze while the Torbay Dayrider will drop in price to £4.90.
