New hike in bus fares slammed as 'raw deal for passengers'

Bus fares in Aberdeen will rise this month - sparking claimspassengers are being exploited.

First Aberdeen will increase the cost of some single journeys by10p and all-day tickets by up to 20p.

The cost of weekly and monthly tickets will remain the same.

But today deputy city council leader Kevin Stewart saidtravellers were getting a raw deal compared to other cities.

He said: "First Aberdeen seems to have a different faresstructure in Aberdeen as they do in other cities.

"I appreciate the fuel cost pressures, but I do not know how theycan justify having higher fares than in Edinburgh, for example."

Transport giant First Group, which is based in Aberdeen, operatesin more than 20 UK cities.

A typical fare from the city centre to a suburb costs pounds1.80 - around 40p more than in Edinburgh and Glasgow.

First Aberdeen managing director George Mair said the company hadto cope with a rise in operating costs of around 7%, includingsalaries.

He said: "We're part of a big group but we're a local businessthat has to work within a local market. Aberdeen's an expensiveplace to live, work and play in.

"I can't tell why Edinburgh charges what it does but I've got tolook at our business and ask how do we make it succeed."

On March 16, an adult single fare for 1-2 stages will go from 70pto 75p with a 3-5 stage ticket from pounds1.30 to pounds1.40. Theprice for six stages or more remains unchanged at pounds1.80.

Unlimited day travel tickets, including peak times, increasesfrom pounds3.50 to pounds3.70.

Mr Mair said: "It is 12 months since the last fares review andduring this time the industry has come under increasing economicpressure."

He highlighted changes to the Government's fuel duty rebate forbus firms.

Mr Mair said: "This will increase industry costs in Scotland bypounds7.5 million over the next 18 months."

He pointed out the company got "almost zero" council subsidycompared to an average of 13% across the country.

And he also said profit was being reinvested in services withFirst Aberdeen spending more than pounds3 million on 22 new busesthis year.

The vehicles have CCTV cameras and lower floors, making them moreaccessible for parents with pushchairs, wheelchair users and olderpeople.

The new fares will start ahead of route changes on April 6.

Mr Mair said: "While we never like to increase our fares, we haveworked hard to ensure that regular travellers can benefit from nochange to weekly and monthly tickets.

"The changes, which we have kept as minimal as possible on thesmallest range of fares that we could, will help to ensure thatFirst can continue to invest in service improvements and new busesto increase the comfort and reliability for our passengers in theNorth-east."

dewen@ajl.co.uk