Bus company boss '˜regrets' fare rises

Brighton and Hove Buses said it is to increase some of its ticket prices, as it will have to run more buses and hire extra drivers to deliver '˜the same level of service' in the face of increasing congestion.
Martin Harris, managing director,  Brighton and Hove Bus CompanyMartin Harris, managing director,  Brighton and Hove Bus Company
Martin Harris, managing director, Brighton and Hove Bus Company

The bus company added that the fare rises will allow it to ‘continue investing in new nearly emissions-free buses’.

The new fares will come into force on January 16, and will see city singles bought on the bus rise from £2.50 to £2.60.

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The one day adult city fare will rise from £4.20 to £4.40 if you buy the tickets online. The fare remains at £5 if purchased on the bus.

Brighton and Hove BusesBrighton and Hove Buses
Brighton and Hove Buses

Other online fares set to rise include the centre fare, which rises from £2 to £2.10, and the 60-minute city fare will rise to £2.60 from £2.40.

A few cash prices have been frozen including short hops at £2 and centre fare tickets at £2.20.

Students are set to lose out, with the student one-day city saver ticket set to rise from £3 to £3.20.

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And the seven-day student city saver will rise from £13 to £13.50.

The bus company said it had introduced two and three-day saver tickets specifically to help students make more flexible choices to save money.

Martin Harris, Brighton and Hove Buses managing director, said: “I very much regret I’ve had to raise more prices than I would have liked. It’s been a very tough year for buses – the toughest since the North Street roadworks a decade ago. I want to personally apologise to our customers. I understand that this is scant comfort for those passengers who now find themselves with higher fares to pay.

“I have had to make some very difficult decisions this year. Congestion in the city is getting considerably worse which means we need to run more buses and hire more drivers just to deliver the same level of service. At the same time, we’ve continued to improve the level of services in general for the fourth year running.

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“What’s more, I have to balance the investment needed to buy in more, new, cleaner buses for the good of all our health against keeping prices as low as I can. This year our customers have paid for 31 new nearly emissions-free buses. Each one comes at a cost of over £200,000.

“I genuinely did my best to keep the price rises minimal. Three of the four cash prices frozen account for the most popular ticket sales. Inflation is running at four per cent and the aggregate revenue from our price increase is 3.2 per cent. Individually some prices have risen by more than this and some by less.”

He added that he would ‘keep listening to customers and review and invest in our services with the needs of the city and the health and welfare of its citizens in mind’.

For a full list of the fare changes, visit: www.buscms.com/BrightonBuses2016/uploadedfiles/Fares_Change.pdf