Anger over bus fare hike (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Anger over bus fare hike

7:42am Wednesday 28th March 2007 in Swindon By Gazette Reporter

BUS users have reacted angrily to Thamesdown Transport's decision to increase its fares by as much as four times the current level of inflation.

And customers will have little chance to protest against the move as the price hike is set to come into force on Sunday.

The bus company will add 10p to adult singles and 20p to all adult returns.

As from Sunday, passengers travelling solely in zone one will pay 11 per cent and 12 per cent more for their journeys.

Child single and return flat fares will also be going up 10p, equating to a 12.5 per cent and seven per cent increase, respectively.

Thamesdown Transport's managing director Paul Jenkins said: "We realise that fare increases are never likely to be popular with customers, but are needed to help meet rising costs.

"We are aiming to hold these prices for the next 12 months.

"Customers who travel regularly may find they can save money by switching to a weekly travelpass.

"Prices for Day Rider, Travelpass and Student Travelpass are not changing."

The latest bus fare increase is the third such rise in the last 12 months.

Last May the company announced it was putting up prices for children and students on all of its routes.

And it revealed it was stopping all return tickets for adults and children on all routes, including the hospital service.

It later backed down on abolishing return fares following a public outcry, but opted instead to increase adult Day Rider tickets by 30p to £2.50.

The bus firm blamed an increase in fuel prices for the rises last July.

Last night, passengers were less than impressed that their travel costs were going up once more.

Unemployed Richard Latham, 25, of West Swindon, said the increase would hit him hard.

He said: "I cannot afford it. I use the bus nearly every day and I don't think the service warrants a price increase."

Park and ride fares are not affected by the price increase, but that did not stop park and ride user Mark Castle from venting his frustration.

"I t's atrocious," he said. "I use the bus quite a lot to get home and they are usually late.

"It seems quite an extortionate increase. It's funny how bus fares never seem to go up with inflation."

But Queen's Drive resident Margaret Whelpdale had few complaints about the rise.

She said: "I use the bus a lot. I think it's value for money compared to London where it costs you £2 to go from one stop to the next."