Nottingham City Transport has announced bus fares are going up. The increased fares will come into effect from Sunday (August 28).
The bus company said the rise came after an increase in operating costs. NCT officials said fuel and staffing costs were to blame, highlighting diesel was costing the company 50 percent more and gas prices had doubled.
NCT also say driver pay rates have increased by 8.5-9.5 percent this year in response to the national shortage of bus drivers. It now means that bus users will pay £2.50 for an adult single and £1.50 for an under 19 single.
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This compares to the current price of £2.40 for an adult single and £1.30 for an under 19 single. The price of an all day ticket in the Nottingham zone has risen by 30p for adults to £4.70 and by 20p for under 19s to £2.70.
An all day ticket across the NCT network will soon cost £7 for an adult and £5.50 for an under 19, these tickets have risen by 50p. Group Rider tickets have also increased from £6 to £7 for the Nottingham zone and from £9 to £10 for the NCT network zone.
There will no longer be a premium price of £10 for Group Rider tickets when travelling before 09:30 on weekdays. The outer area fares on South Notts 1, Pathfinder 26 and Sky Blue 46, 47 will increase for the first time in three and a half years, with single fares rising by up to 80p and day return fares rising by up to 90p.
A short hop ticket remains at the same price of £1.50 and dogs remain at £1 for unlimited all day travel across the network. NCT say despite the cost pressures on them, the average fare increase is below the current 10.1% rate of inflation and is instead at 6%.
David Astill, NCT’s Managing Director said, said: “We appreciate these are difficult times for all and our business is contending with cost increases too. We have absorbed as much of the increase in staffing and fuel costs as we can and as a result, the increase on our main fares is well below the current rate of inflation.
"We are confident our fares continue to offer value for money with many discounted fare options for the regular traveller.” For more information on the fare rise check NCT's website.
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