West Midlands bus fares and passes to go up this weekend - here's everything you need to know
Passengers will find the cost of fares and monthly and annual passes on West Midlands buses will go up this weekend.
An 8.6 per cent increase will come into effect for a number of tickets on Sunday (June 15) with rising costs faced by bus operators being cited as the reason for the increase.
The fare rise follows an independent review, instigated by bus operators, which recommended the increase, and which Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) was required to introduce.
Price rises are coming in for a range of tickets and passes including the four-week fare, used by those who commute on a daily basis, which will go up from £64 to £70 and the monthly direct debit fare rise from £59 to £64.
A TfWM spokesperson said these are cheaper than comparable fares in London (£94), Liverpool (£77.10), Manchester (£80) and Nottingham, at £75.
The cost of the day ticket will also increase by 40p to £5.20 while the single adult fare will go up from £2.90 to £3.
National Express West Midlands, the main bus operator in the region, said there were ‘great value’ tickets available to passengers, including a new single 10 ticket bundle for £25.
When the news was first announced last month, West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker expressed his frustration with the increases.
He said the hike proved his decision to move the current deregulated bus network to a franchise model.
Mr Parker said: “I know this fare rise will frustrate people – and I share that frustration. It’s a decision taken by the operators. And it proves exactly why I’m franchising our buses.
“Under franchising, we’ll take back control – setting fares, choosing routes and putting passengers first.
“Monthly fares are among the lowest in the country for people who rely on buses every day.
“And I want to encourage people to continue to use our bus network. But I want a system that offers more than just value – it needs to be fair, reliable and under local control.”
Passengers are advised to check www.nxbus.co.uk for more information on the fare increases.
