BUS fares are going up in Huddersfield.
First, which runs dozens of services across the town, has announced price rises to take effect from Monday, April 1.
The company says it is the first significant increase in fares for 15 months with the overall changes resulting in an average increase of less than 3% on fares across the Huddersfield district, which is below the rate of inflation of 3.3%
But the rise has angered some. Metro is the council-run body which monitors services and chairman Clr James Lewis said the increases were “disappointing”.
“At a time when most people are feeling financially squeezed and want to see better value for money from their bus fares it is naturally disappointing to hear this news that fares on First’s bus services across West Yorkshire are going to rise, although the reduction in children’s fares is to be welcomed.
“However fare rises are also a consequence of the Coalition Government’s insistence on cutting funding to city and district councils and reducing the Fuel Duty rebate for local bus services.
“It is another example of further financial burdens being placed on those least able to afford them”.
He added that Metro now wants the bus companies to look at introducing simplified and integrated ticketing which offers that better value along with levels of services and reliability which reflect the fares they are charging.
Some First fares remain frozen, for example the FirstDay and FirstWeek tickets, which allow unlimited travel across West Yorkshire.
The West Yorkshire child weekly ticket is being reduced to £7 (from £8).
A First spokesman said: “By absorbing cost increases earlier this year First was able to freeze prices in January 2013 when it would normally have looked to introduce price changes.
“Rising costs to the business have resulted in the need for this below inflation rise. First remains committed to continued capital investment and has recently announced a multi million investment in new buses across the UK with West Yorkshire earmarked for some of this significant financial investment”.
Dave Alexander, regional managing director for First in the North of England said: “We appreciate nobody likes it when prices go up but we have worked hard to keep any increases to a minimum by introducing savings within our business to off-set cost increases”.
£1.30 Adult Single fare will increase to £1.40
Halifax / Huddersfield Off-Peak Day ticket will increase from £3.70 to £3.80
Halifax £2.00 return to increase to £2.10
Halifax £2.50 return to increase to £2.60
West Yorkshire Tickets –
WY Child Day to increase from £2.00 to £2.10
WY Adult Month to increase from £63.00 to £65.00
All other fares are unchanged
