12 March 2022

Bus Fares increasing: Stagecoach

Along with everything else – bus fares are now starting to rise…

From 13 March 2022, there will be changes to our bus fares, in the first increase for nearly three years. Since 2019, costs across the bus industry have risen by around 12%. Prices will be frozen on our app products, saving you on average 10% compared to the on bus price.

Almost all the money received in fares goes towards paying for the day-to-day running of services as well as investing in improvements. The amount of money bus operators receive in fares to keep services running remains significantly below pre-pandemic levels.

By freezing our app prices you will be able to enjoy 2019 prices on daily and weekly mobile tickets. Dayrider and one week megarider tickets are available in all zones as mobile tickets via the app. By focussing on our digital products we hope to keep operating costs down, speed up boarding times and reduce cash handling.

Our innovative dayrider and megarider products allow you to benefit from unlimited travel within your chosen zone, providing an affordable option for you to get the best value from the ticket you’ve purchased.  Alongside this on bus single tickets will see a small increase of as little as 10p depending on the length of the your journey. 

Mike Watson Managing Director for Stagecoach South West said: “Stagecoach has consistently delivered some of the lowest ticket prices in the country and we are committed to continuing to keep fares as low as possible for our passengers.

“Like many sectors of the economy, bus operators are seeing significant cost inflation, primarily driven by increased fuel and staffing costs. At the same time, the money bus operators receive in fares to keep services running remains significantly below pre-pandemic levels.

“The changes we are making follow a fares freeze for nearly three years and are reflective of rises in inflation.

“As well as paying for the day to day running of the South West’s vital bus networks, ticket costs help us to continue investing in improvements for our passengers, and pay for our staff who have worked hard to keep communities connected and services running during the pandemic.”

“By freezing prices on our mobile app, customer’s will be able to purchase daily and weekly products for the same price they’re used to and have the benefit of having their ticket loaded and ready to go before they board the bus. We’ve made significant investment in the tools available in our mobile app, with customers now being able to view their bus as it approaches via our live map, and also see ahead of time how busy the bus is likely to be.”

In 2021, new flexible products were trialled in Exeter and Exeter Plus zones to welcome people back to bus as travel patterns change. When purchasing one of our flexi bundles, you save up to 30% on the cost of daily travel, and have 12 months to choose which day to use your ticket. As part of the new local fare structure these trial products will be a permanent offer in our ticket range, and we’ll be exploring other zones to offer these products.

In addition to the new products on offer, we will be freezing the price of our value Niterider ticket at just £3 on the app. The ticket allows unlimited travel across the whole network until end of service. Stagecoach South West Managing director Mike Watson says ‘We are pleased to offer evening travel at the same price as in 2019 across our network. We hope this will support the evening economy in our local areas and allow our customers to travel home safely from their evening out.’

The full list of multi tickets are on the  web site HERE but day ticket prices are as follows…

AREAAdult DayAdult Child DayChild Day3
AppOn BusAppOn Bus

Barnstaple

£3.50

£3.90

£2.20£2.40
Barnstaple PLUS£4.00£4.40£3.00£3.30
Dartmouth£3.70£4.20£2.50£2.90
Exeter£4.20£4.50£3.10£3.40
Exeter PLUS£6.20£6.80£4.20£4.60
Exmouth£3.80£4.20£2.60£2.90
Newton Abbot£3.70£4.10£2.50£2.80
North Devon£4.80£5.30£3.10£3.40
Plymouth inner£3.90£4.40£2.80£3.00
Plymouth outer£4.20£4.50£3.10£3.50
Plymouth PLUS£5.80£6.60£4.00£4.60
Torbay£5.00£5.50£3.50£3.90
Gold£8.30£9.10£5.50£6.10

Stagecoach 24146 WA59FXC

I suspect that Citybus and First wont be far behind…

2 comments:

  1. Not sure what you're expecting First to increase.
    Somerset’s we’re raised in Jan, Cornwall’s will be absorbed in the low fares pilot from April. Only leaves Dartmoor and Exeter where along with Exmoor where day prices are being restructured but nothing else

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. fair point - I forgot about the Cornish Fares deal!

      Delete

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