Bus fares to go up

11:00am Saturday 19th July 2008

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PARK & Ride bus fares in York are to rise by 15 per cent in the wake of soaring diesel costs.

The price of an adult return ticket will increase from £2 to £2.30, while an annual ticket is going up from £300 to £350.

Bus operator First said today that the increase – the first in three years – was in response to recent dramatic rises in the price of fuel, which had doubled since January 2007 and more than quadrupled since 2002.

The fare rise, which comes into effect on Sunday, August 3, will hit almost four million passenger journeys used to travel into and out of the city centre each year.

But First said that passengers on its standard services in the city will escape any rise – at least for the time being.

A spokesman said: “At this stage, there are no plans to raise fares on standard services in the near future.”

Managing director Richard Eames spoke of his regrets at the announcement, which was being made following consultation with City of York Council.

“First has for some time continued to absorb additional operating costs so that our customers are not directly affected,” he said.

“However, in light of the escalating increases in fuel and other operating costs, we have reluctantly decided to increase the price of fares.

“We appreciate that nobody likes it when prices go up and we have worked hard to keep them to a minimum. “However, as the cost of filling up at the petrol station has gone up – diesel is now £6 a gallon for the motorist – we believe our fares are still extremely competitive.

“It is also important to note that this is the first time an adult return ticket has gone up for three years and has risen considerably less, in percentage terms, than the rise in costs to our business, particularly the cost of fuel, over the same period of time.

Damon Copperthwaite, assistant director for City Development and Transport at the council, said he was disappointed it had been necessary to increase fares.

“But we have managed to keep the increase down to less than operating cost inflation over the last three years,” he said.

“Park&Ride bus services will still be good value for money for visitors and commuters when compared with the alternative of using their cars.”

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Is the Park&Ride fares increase justified?