Stagecoach forced to make fare changes
Rising costs and reduced public sector investment have forced up fares for passengers, Stagecoach South West confirmed today... but argue that taking the bus still offers better value than commuting by car.
Fares in Devon and Somerset will rise by an average of 4.2% from 1 April 2013. The cost of a weekly Exeter Megarider, which is one of the company’s most popular tickets, will change from £13.00 to £13.50. This offers passengers unlimited travel for seven days within Exeter for just £1.93 a day.
Furthermore, in recognition of Exeter’s increased catchment area and new developments such as Cranbrook, Stagecoach South West is introducing the Exeter Dayrider Plus and Exeter Megarider Plus. The new tickets provide a great value travel option for people commuting from areas such as Broadclyst, Cranbrook and Kennford with day tickets priced at £5.50 and weekly tickets at £20.00, equating to just £2.86 a day for seven days unlimited travel.
Other passengers will see their fares frozen, including families who purchase the Family Explorer ticket, which will remain at £15.00, allowing two adults and up to three children to travel together. There will also be no price increase to the popular £1 child add on ticket, which is available at weekends, Bank Holidays and throughout the school holidays.
The price rises compare with a 14% rise in the annual cost of motoring reported by the RAC in November 2011. It now costs an average of £6,689 – or 55.7pence per mile – per year to own and run a car in the UK.
An independent survey last year found that Stagecoach continues to offer the best value bus fares of any major bus operator in the UK, with prices up to 20% lower than other companies.
In addition, a survey carried out by Stagecoach in 2012 revealed that commuters could save an average of £150 per month - or £1,700 per year - just by switching from the car to Stagecoach bus services for their daily commute.
Stagecoach also recently announced the launch of the country’s first long-term nationwide discounted bus travel scheme for jobseekers, whereby holders of a Jobcentreplus Travel Discount Card qualify for half-price single and return tickets on Stagecoach’s 6,500 buses in the UK outside London.
However, Stagecoach said today that continued rising costs – including labour, energy, fuel and insurance costs - and reduced public sector investment in bus services has resulted in the operator having no choice but to increase some fares.
In many areas, local authority investment in bus services has reduced as a result of council spending cuts. Many local authorities have also reduced the budget they use to fund the free concessionary bus travel passengers scheme, putting pressure on fares and bus networks for many bus users in England.
Michelle Hargreaves, Managing Director of Stagecoach South West, said: "We understand that this will be frustrating for our passengers. Unfortunately we have had to take some difficult decisions but we have done our best to keep fare changes to a minimum.
“We are facing continued rising costs in a number of areas of our business and we are seeing 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 continues to rise, 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 further improvements for passengers."
Local fares information can be found at www.stagecoachbus.com/southwest
