West Bromwich MP Tom Watson criticises National Express bus fare increase
Labour's deputy leader and West Bromwich East MP Tom Watson has criticised the increase in bus fares introduced by National Express.
The cost of an adult single ticket increased by 10p to £2.30 and an adult Daysaver increased by 20p to £4.40.
Mr Watson said this did not tally up with the fact that in December, the cost of Brent crude oil sank to an 11-year low at just $36.05 a barrel.
He called for the bus operator to pass on the savings in fuel costs to people using their service by cutting fares.
The MP said: "Fuel prices have been falling for several years now. National Express should be passing on these savings in full to their customers, not increasing the cost of some fares."
Mr Watson has previously launched a petition calling on operators to lower fares in response to falling fuel prices.
Responding to the latest increase he said: "Although a few types of ticket have fallen in cost slightly, these changes do not go far enough. Some fares have either gone up or been frozen despite fuel prices being at a record low."
National Express said off-peak tickets had actually been reduced in price and families would also benefit from the new costs.
A statement on the National Express website said: "We are introducing a new cheaper off-peak Daysaver and new child add-on tickets for only £1 when bought with the off-peak Daysaver.
We are also freezing the price of family and group tickets.
"We are also cutting the price of off-peak travel, with all Daysavers bought after 9.30am weekdays or any time Saturday or Sunday, now costing just £4.
"To give better value for families, we are introducing child add-ons, meaning an adult buying an off-peak daysaver can take children along for just an extra £1 each. This could mean one adult and one child benefit from unlimited off-peak travel for just £5, down from over £7 currently.
"We are also freezing the price of the family and group Daysavers at just £8."
In January last year Mr Watson launched a petition calling for bus fares to be cut to reflect plummeting fuel prices.
However, the bus operators did not take note so he has been forced to repeat the call 12 months on – after another annual 10p rise in the cost of an adult single.
Hundreds of people added their names to the petition outside West Bromwich bus station.
