Bus firm Stagecoach says it was forced into ticket price rise
One of the Westcountry's biggest bus and coach operators is set to increase fares in Devon and Cornwall by around 4% from April 1.
Stagecoach South West blamed the move on rising costs and reduced public sector investment.
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One of the company's most popular tickets, the weekly Exeter Megarider ticket will rise from £13.00 to £13.50.
But it claimed other passengers will see their fares frozen, including those who purchase the Family Explorer ticket which will remain at £15.00, allowing two adults and up to three children to travel together.
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The company said rising costs – including labour, energy, fuel and insurance costs – and reduced public sector investment in bus services had resulted in the operator having no choice but to increase fares.
Michelle Hargreaves, managing director of Stagecoach South West, said: "We understand that this will be frustrating for our passengers. 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."
Comments
by MarkStJohn
Friday, March 29 2013, 11:03PM
“Hardly surprising really when most buses I ever see seem to have at most three people on them. Heavily subsidised by the Taxpayer trundling along Taxpayer paid for bus lanes with no body on them and Stagecoach have the nerve to put the fares up.
In most business, when trade is poor, the model is to drop the prices, not increase them. But not apparently, when you get public money and have shareholders to pay.”
by sicknote
Saturday, March 23 2013, 1:33PM
“4% will just be the start. As soon as first bus pulled out it gave stagecoach the monopoly and everyone knew prices would rise. just wait and see how the prices will creep up in the coming year. stagecoach are knowen for doing this all around the country.”
by billinbarum25
Thursday, March 21 2013, 7:40PM
“its a plane fact that every cost seems to be going up..but faster than wages so maybe if stagecoach didnt run excess buses on each route they may be able to reduce costs, keep customers and halt unnecessary price rises
it seems excessive to have up to three buses jockeying one after the other at bus stops to pick-up and drop-off customers on just one route alone 'ie' bideford /barnstaple, its not beyond possibilty that this also happens on many other routes,
most buses seen around north devon appear to be almost empty most of the time so surely it makes sense to reduce vehicle numbers and effectivly fill the remaining buses.”