Fare Hikes across Britain

[Deleted]

This is terrifying, Britain will suffer a rise of bus fare hikes.

One in Wales/Cymru
www.caernarfonherald.co.uk/caernarfon-county-news/local-caernarfon-news/2013/04/04/parents-angry-at-school-bus-price-hike-88817-33115961/

One in Swindon
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-22057020

One in Abredeen
local.stv.tv/aberdeen/news/magazine/219834-first-aberdeen-bus-fare-hike-for-students-met-with-criticism/

There will be no chance for a £1 fare ticket as well.
www.eveningexpress.co.uk/Article.aspx/3190555

Yet the firms blame iit on the hyperinflation of fuel prices
www.heraldscotland.com/news/transport/bus-firm-blames-fuel-costs-for-fares-increase.20653437

Then Northamptonshire
www.northampton-news-hp.co.uk/News/Stagecoach-bus-fare-increase-in-Northamptonshire-20130405120045.htm

And other in West Yorkshire
www.ilkleygazette.co.uk/news/news_local/10322082.Bus_firm_is_warned_over_ticket_price_rise/

That is outrageous

[snoggle]

Fares go up all the time. Stagecoach typically increase their fares every April right across the country.

I am afraid I have little time for students whingeing about fares - when I was at college there were no discounted fares from London Transport. I had to fork out full adult fare to get to college. They ought to be thankful that *commercial* bus companies offer them anything at all!

Did you bother to read any of the articles? They all point to issues which are largely outside of the control of the bus companies. Voters seem quite happy to see the government slashing expenditure so why is anyone surprised when bus fares go up as a result? The government has stopped councils increasing council tax so funding for concessionary travel has been cut as has money for subsidised services. Fuel costs are driven by external economic factors and the only thing the bus companies can do is "hedge" their fuel purchases but sometimes they get it wrong and end up paying more than they should. That's their risk and if it goes wrong they have to take the hit from their profits - this happened to Go Ahead a few years back.

The economy has also gone to sh*t so fewer people are travelling to work or for leisure / shopping reasons. All of this means less money for the bus companies.

The bus companies are private businesses with shareholders who demand dividends. That is not going to change anytime soon so demands for more revenue and more profits will never go away. Bus companies are not charities and are not going to keep fares down just because people moan a bit or go into a state of shock.

Given the government (including in Scotland, Wales and NI) will not spend more on subsidies and will not allow councils to put up council tax can you please say what you would do to keep fares down? London is a huge exception to the rule so please do not say "do what London does".