I have received a lot of complaints about the rise in fares on the 600 route from people who use the bus from Ashton to Wigan.The single bus fare for this journey has risen from £1.70 to £3.20.
I have asked GMPTE and First Buses for an explanation for this massive increase which has deterred people from using this route.
At a time when we are supposed to encouraging people to get out of their cars and use public transport I think that this increase is counter productive.
I will update you when I receive a reply from GMPTE and First Buses
3 comments:
perhaps it's to do with labour increasing tax on petrol/disel by 2p.
Wigan bus fares are already way more expensive than in the near by cities (Manchester and Liverpool). Unfortunately it is hitting the most poverty striken and making things even more difficult for them.
Antony
Anthony
I have asked First buses why they put up the single fare by so much and this is part of the reply I received. I hope this helps to explain the situation.
We are aware that First has been providing discounted fares on service 600 in the Wigan area over the last year with the aim of encouraging greater usage of the service. This initiative capped fares at £1.70. They have also been offering reduced price day and weekly tickets, known as Wigan and Leigh Value tickets.
Due to the impact of the current recession and the pressure on costs within the industry, First Group has decided to bring the promotion to a close on Sunday 16 August and re-introduce the graduated fare scale that they charge on all their other services. Although the single fare quoted would appear to be a very substantial rise, it is comparable with journeys of a similar length in other districts. First also continue to offer day and weekly tickets, priced at £4.00 and £15.50respectively.
To be honest Cllr. Ash you couldn't give two hoots if First Bus put up their fares to £10 for a single journey.
You are player in a political party that has systematically torn the heart out of everything that we as a nation used to hold dear.
Selling off everything British, (a continuation of the Tory era) especially concerns that was once nationalised and treasured and that includes our bus services. Everything now is huge profit orientated. You are now held to ransom by these multinationl giants and whatever you say or do will be a futile exercise, they have the power and the money.
It's of no surprise that First Group is a billion pound concern owning the Greyhound (N.America) and Stagecoach name as well as pocketing a vast amount of millions in profit from these shores alone!
Until our road and rail services are back to being nationalised and back in OUR hands, we will continue to be treated as nothing more than cash making machines for these ideous capitalistic theives that you endorse!
Us mere mortals have little choice but to continue to keep forking out for these unjust fares just in order to put some food on our tables.
When was the last time you used the local bus services and in particular the First bus Cllr: Ash?
I think I'm more qualified than you to comment on this issue? Having never owned a car and have used the bus network for near 40years!
I also know that the First Group took a number of Labour MP's on an all expenses paid jolly to the Japan World Cup a number of years back!
Can't upset the apple cart can we now??
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