RISING FUEL COSTS FORCE BUS FARE INCREASES
- Bus operator faces 12% rise in annual fuel costs
- Pay rises and grant freeze also put pressure on prices
- New online ticket gives regular passengers cheaper travel
Rising fuel costs and increased fuel duty have forced Stagecoach Bluebird to increase bus fares across the region, affecting Aberdeen City and Shire, Buchan, Moray, Inverness and Easter Ross, from 28th April 2008.
The company's fuel costs will be more than £1m higher in the 2008/9 financial year than in 2007/8, despite the Government’s decision to defer the 2p per litre increase in fuel duty from April until October. This represents an increase of 12% on the previous year, and coupled to pay and other costs increasing by inflationary amounts, has resulted in an increase being unavoidable.
Many single and return fares will increase in price as well as commuter card, dayrider and megarider tickets. Single fare increases will range between 5p and 50p depending on the current fare and distance travelled. City and town megarider and megarider plus tickets will increase by an average of 50p for a weekly ticket. The wider megarider tickets such as the Moray and Highland tickets will increase by £1.
The company is hopeful that, by advancing the fare increase and minimising the impact on individual fares, it will minimise inconvenience to customers and avoid the possible requirement for a further increase later in 2008. However, if fuel costs were to increase considerably during 2008, the company is warning that a further fare revision may be unavoidable.
Robert Andrew, Regional Director, Stagecoach Scotland said: “Stagecoach has a good track-record of keeping fares as low as possible for our customers. We are disappointed that we find it essential to increase prices as a result of increasing fuel costs, which are totally outwith our control."
"Normally, we would look to freeze fares for regular travellers, as we have done in the past. However, within Stagecoach Bluebird, we are facing increased fuel costs in excess of £1m in 2008/9, compared to 2007/8. After the fares revision, our wide range of tickets will still offer value for money and weekly megarider tickets will offer unlimited travel from as little as 72p per day."
“However, we would highlight that regular customers can avoid the increase and achieve considerable savings of up to 13% by purchasing Megarider tickets on line at buymymegarider.com”
The new online sales facility was launched last month and offers the popular megarider ticket range in 4 week, 13 week and annual ticket options. The tickets offer discount on the cost of buying individual weekly tickets, as part of a drive to make it easier for people to switch from the car to public transport.
