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Anger at huge rise in First bus fares
BUS passengers in South Yorkshire face a massive hike in ticket prices on First buses in the new year - triggering outrage from residents and councillors.
Prices are to rise well over the rate of inflation, with average fares increasing 7.5 per cent, and some monthly passes jumping nearly nine per cent.
Most single tickets are to go up between 10p and 30p, and county-wide day fares will rise from 4.50 to 4.80.
Regular travellers will feel the biggest jolt, with a South Yorkshire First Month pass going up from 68 to 74.70, nearly 20 more than the 55 it costs in Greater Manchester. First Group said the fare hike is needed to meet rising pension and staff costs, and comes at the end of a difficult year for the business.
But the company was slammed by transport bosses at Sheffield Council, who warned the hike threatens their annual agreement with First.
Coun Ian Auckland, the council's transport spokesman, said: "Frankly I'm outraged at this plan. The First approach seems to be based on a shrinking network with fewer passengers paying more and more for a worse service, with the taxpayer struggling to plug a few gaps.
"As far as I'm concerned this is a bus service with the destination 'dead end'.
"This will be a huge blow to passengers who rely on public transport to get around Sheffield. As a council we will not be entering into any kind of agreement with bus companies that involves unjustified fare increases or service reductions."
The Lib Dem councillor blamed the Labour government for failing to reverse Tory privatisation of the bus service and called for buses to be handed over to local control.
Coun Mick Jameson, chair of South Yorkshire Integrated Transport Authority, condemned the rises as "unjustifiable."
He said: "This is very disappointing. These are some really quite large fare rises and they come at a time when the local economy has been hit very hard.
"Putting up fares does nothing to try to persuade more people to use the bus and when inflation is so low such large rises really are unjustifiable."
Passengers waiting for buses at Sheffield Interchange were horrified by the hike.
Ray Cox from Lowedges told The Star: "Buses cost way too much already, and I can't see how this is justified."
His 18-year-old daughter Jessica said she pays more than 80 a month in daily passes already, and can't afford the extra 6 the bus company wants.
Mum-of-one Carolyn Parkin, 30, from Heeley, said: "There should be an incentive for people to use buses, and prices are so high already. If tickets keep going up people who can afford to are just going to drive."
Stephen Webster, who sells baked goods from a stall on Castlegate, said the hike would harm his business.
"We rely on people coming into town on the bus. We've seen trade dry up in the city centre over the last few years because parking is so bad. And now bus prices keep going up and people think it's easier to go to Meadowhall."
Brandon Jones, First South Yorkshire's deputy managing director, said the Sunday January 3 price change was needed to meet rising costs.
"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.
"Fares have to be set at a level that covers our anticipated costs for the medium term. The most significant impact on our costs in 2010 is rising pension and staff costs in this difficult economic time.
"Over the past year the recession has had a major impact on our business, much like many other Yorkshire businesses, and we have had to deal with difficult issues such as staff redundancies and service changes. We will continue to streamline our business to ensure we are in a strong position to come out of the recession and to grow the business once more."
COST OF YOUR TICKET
TYPE WAS NEW
Adult single 80p 85p
Adult single 1.20 1.30
Adult singlen 1.50 1.60
Adult single 1.80 1.95
Adult single 2.20 2.40
Adult single 2.50 2.70
Adult single 2.80 3
Adult single 3.20 3.50
FirstDay South Yorkshire 4.50 4.80
FirstDay Sheffield 4 4.30
FirstDay Rotherham 4 4.30
FirstDay Doncaster 4 4.30
FirstDay Group 8 8.50
FirstWeek SY 18 19.50
FirstWeek Sheffield 16 17.50
FirstWeek Rotherham 15 16
FirstWeek Doncaster 15 16
FirstMonth SY 68 74.70
FirstMonth Sheffield 60 65.90
FirstMonth Rotherham 54 58
FirstMonth Doncaster 54 58
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Weather for Sheffield
Tuesday 07 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -6 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: East
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Sunny
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Wind direction: South east
