Bus fares set to go up by 10p

Single bus fares across Stafford are set to increase by 10p, bus company Arriva Midlands has announced.

The company, which runs buses across the south Staffordshire area, has said the increases are needed to cover increasing costs.

It is also hoping to try and encourage more passengers to buy the more expensive multiple ticket offers which have been frozen or reduced.

The company's weekly saver ticket prices have been frozen at £19 for adults and £12 for children, as have the 10-trip saver ticket prices.

The Midlands four-weekly saver has been cut by 40 per cent from £67 to £39. The quarterly and six-month tickets will also be reduced giving big savings in real terms.

Bosses at Arriva said the company had reviewed its fares in light of increasing insurance, employment and fuel costs.

The revised fares will be introduced on its local bus routes in the Stafford area from Sunday. Regular bus users who opt for multi-use bus tickets, which can be transferred to family and friends, will continue to benefit, although the Arriva local day saver, currently £3.60 and the Midlands day savers, currently £4.80 for an adult and £3.70 for a child, will increase by 10p.

Arriva has said the increases in single fares have been kept as low as possible, 10p on most fares, to help cover rising costs, whilst some single fares have also reduced in price.

Keith Myatt, communications manager for Arriva Midlands, said: "We have tried hard to keep fare increases to a minimum however we have reached the point where it is inevitable that we must pass on some of the additional costs to customers in order that the services remain sustainable.

Full details of all fare changes are available from Arriva's customer comment helpline on 0844 800 44 11 or via Arriva's website on www.arrivabus.co.uk