Bus fares rise across West Midlands and Coventry

[dutchman]

Fares on National Express West Midlands buses have risen by up to a quarter after a freeze of nearly 18 months.

The company, which runs services across Birmingham, the Black Country and Coventry, brought in the rise for cash fares this week.

It said it had pegged the price since last year but could no longer afford to continue.

The company - also known as Travel West Midlands - is also asking drivers to take a voluntary pay cut.

The rises include an adult 'short hop' fare for one or two stages changing from £1.20 to £1.50 in Birmingham and the Black Country, while an adult regional day saver goes from £3.30 to £3.50.

'Holding fares'

National Express West Midlands managing director Neil Barker said it was the first rise for 17 months but the company had frozen its most popular fare, the £1.70 adult single.

"We committed to holding fares into the New Year, which we have done," he said.

"We're halfway through the year now and that is a position we can't hold any longer."

Mr Barker said the pay cuts only affected longer-serving drivers in the highest wage bracket but were entirely voluntary.

He said: "Our top rate of driver pay is above the market rate and increases we have made to other pay rates over the last few years has reduced the natural turnover of staff.

"The business will offer every driver in the West Midlands an opportunity to amend their pay rate in return for a lump sum of money."

[pollyanna]

I've always thought how reasonable the bus fares are in Coventry. When I visit I always bought a day saver and thought it was excellent value, so even with an increase I think it still offers good value for money in comparison to the rest of the country. I found it a pain having to have the exact fare though and the bus drivers were usually rude and unhelpful too. £3.50 for a regional day saver is good value for money in my opinion.
Now that we can use our free passes all over the country I no longer have to pay anywhere I go so that's a bonus.

I also thought what an excellent bus service you had. You'd never have to worry about rushing to catch a bus - because there was always one not far behind.
You also have a Sunday and Bank Holiday service - a luxury that we certainly don't have.

[Elaine]

Pollyanna - you have obviously never tried to get a bus on a Sunday, bank holiday or evening in Coundon.
we only get an hourly circular service at those times. The ptb reckon that everyone in Coundon has a car or a bus pass which is not profitable - I have neither.

[dutchman]

The service between Spon End and Earlsdon is terrible these days Polly. There used to be three or four different services now there is just one very infrequent service. A full pound for travelling just two stops is excessive in my opinion and I think it's gone up since? It discourages casual bus users such as shoppers and encourages car use instead. At least when it was a full pound I didn't have to fiddle with change.

[pollyanna]

Pollyanna - you have obviously never tried to get a bus on a Sunday, bank holiday or evening in Coundon.
we only get an hourly circular service at those times. The ptb reckon that everyone in Coundon has a car or a bus pass which is not profitable - I have neither.

Elaine - I usually stay with a friend in Holbrooks when I visit - and the buses on that route seem fairly frequent. As I no longer live there I can only tell you of the experience I have as a visitor. It sounds as though some routes have too many buses and some not enough, and we have the same situation here in Kent.

Where I live we have just one bus an hr (and that doesn't always turn up) and no service at all on Sunday or Bank Holiday. It takes just 3 or 4 minutes to drive into town so I usually take the easy option and drive.

The service between Spon End and Earlsdon is terrible these days Polly. There used to be three or four different services now there is just one very infrequent service. A full pound for travelling just two stops is excessive in my opinion and I think it's gone up since? It discourages casual bus users such as shoppers and encourages car use instead. At least when it was a full pound I didn't have to fiddle with change.

You're right Dutchy - £1 is excessive for travelling just 2 stops. As you say it discourages the very people who are likely to use the service, so it's little wonder people use their cars.

[pollyanna]

Buses in Earlsdon are useless, and unless you work in the city centre they're useless for commuting. It'd take me over an hour to get from home to work and that'd involve a change. I can do it in a car in 15-20 minutes.

...... and it's probably cheaper for you too Flapdoodle - then they wonder why people don't use public transport