Bus users bemoan company's fare increases

Bus passengers have criticised a company's decision to put up fares, as it announced changes due to "increases in operating costs".

Dan Bassett, Ipswich Buses's managing director, said the company had "tried hard to maintain affordability and offer value for money" as labour costs and taxes rise.

Among the changes from 20 April are rising prices for single journeys and the scrapping of return tickets, but a reduction in day ticket fares.

One bus user told the BBC "it's going to get to the point where it's cheaper to get a cab", but some were also sympathetic due to the cost of living crisis.

Ipswich Buses introduced increases and changes to tickets last year too following a review.

This year, the company said it had carried out analysis of local and national operators' fares before making its decision.

Single fares are due to rise from £2 to £2.30 for an adult and from £1.40 to £1.70 for under-20s. The £2 National Bus Fare Cap for single journeys was raised to £3 by the government in its October Budget.

Return tickets are being withdrawn and replaced instead with a reduced day ticket, from £4.50 to £4.40 for an adult and £3.30 to £3 for under-20s.

The company said its app continued to offer a reduction in fares for family tickets and for those wanting to buy in bulk.

Other bus operators in the county have made similar changes.

First Bus, which operates across the county, introduced changes at the start of the year in response to the National Bus Fare Cap change.

Hedingham & Chambers buses, that operates in a small part of Suffolk as well as Essex and is due to rebrand later this year, has also brought in new fares.

Regular bus user Darrell Dragon, 45, felt the changes by Ipswich Buses were not fair.

"They should keep the return ticket. By all means take it up, but to scrap it is just a joke," he said.

"I can understand the price increase, but to scrap one ticket is a joke and to take it up as much as they are for the day ticket is ridiculous.

"It puts me off [using the buses], but unfortunately I don't have a choice.

"It's going to get to the point where it's cheaper to get a cab than it is to get the bus."

Vakare Rimkute, 19, from Leiston, uses the buses regularly to get to Ipswich and said despite being small increases, they eventually add up.

"You think at the time it's not that much, but then when you add it up at the end of the month you think, 'Oh, a chunk of my money is gone'," she explained.

"It does make a difference, that extra little bit that you could save over a few weeks to buy yourself some lunch or something more useful."

Ms Rimkute said she understood the reasons behind the changes, but felt wages often did not match the cost of living.

Despite the changes, she said she would still need to use the service.

"It doesn't put me off it - it inconveniences me and makes me think," she added.

Megan Clarke, 35, is another regular bus user from Ipswich and said the changes would force her to "pick and choose" when she could go out or enjoy other things in her life.

"Sometimes it's weighing the option, so I must ensure I've got money for the bus, but I can't just use it frivolously because I might need it for something else," she said.

"For some of the buses they go really regularly, they're clean and the staff are really helpful and friendly, that's good value.

"But when buses are not as up-to-date, or they're not clean or they're not as regular, that feels a bit painful when you're paying so much for it.

"I think we might lose some bus services because people just can't afford it."

Mr Bassett, from the bus company, said: "We understand the cost of living continues to be challenging for many people, and whilst we have had to make alterations to our fares, including increasing several prices, we have tried hard to maintain affordability and offer value for money for our customers.

"The removal of return tickets and adult transfer tickets, replacing them with discounted day tickets further simplify our fare structure, making ticketing easier to understand and buses easier to use.

"We will continue to offer 'on the day' bus fares which are the lowest and best value in the region, and some of the lowest and best value fares in the country."

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