Stagecoach has frozen single bus fares around Cambridgeshire, along with returns on the Cambridge Park & Ride, but other fares will rise.
The bus operator said it was committed to remaining part of the government’s £2 single fare cap scheme until at least the end of June 2024.
Currently around eight out of 10 bus passengers in the East pay single fares.
But there will be increases to a Dayrider in the Town Zone and a Dayrider in the Plus Zone, which will change by £2, while a Plus Zone 28 Day MegaRider will increase by £19.
Darren Roe, managing director of Stagecoach East, said: “Stagecoach has consistently delivered some of the lowest ticket prices in the country and we are committed to continuing to keep fares as low as possible for our passengers.
“As well as paying for the day-to-day running of the country’s vital bus networks, ticket costs help us to continue investing in improvements for our customers, and pay for bus workers who have worked hard to keep communities connected and services running during the pandemic.
“We are doing everything possible to absorb these cost increases and to help protect our valued customers at the same time as ensuring our own people receive fair pay increases to help them manage the significant cost-of-living challenges.
“That means that changing our fares to reflect the current climate is a necessity to ensure we can keep our services running and connecting communities across the country.”
Stagecoach will continue to offer youth tickets to under-19s and students, which are priced at approximately 30 per cent less than adult ticket equivalents.
In addition, there will be no change to travel zones and the 50 per cent Job Seekers discount on bus travel will be maintained.
Mr Roe added: “It is never an easy decision to change our fares, but we need to ensure the future financial security of the network and make sure that we are investing in the kinds of technology and service improvements that our customers rightly expect. The bus offers value for money that is unmatched by any equivalent mode of transport, so I would encourage local residents to get on the bus to meet friends and family, get to work and to explore our great region.”
Plans announced by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority in January suggest it will soon cap bus fares for under-25s at £1, funded by a tripling of the mayoral precept imposed on council tax payers.
For a Band D household, the mayoral precept introduced by mayor Dr Nik Johnson rose from £12 to £36 this year.
The new Cambridgeshire Town Zones (Cambridge, Fenland, Haverhill, Hertfordshire, March, Peterborough and St Neots) cost of travel per day (unlimited) will be:
\- Day Ticket: Adult £5.50, Youth £3.90
\- 7 Day MegaRider: Adult £3.15, Youth £2.23
\- 28 Day MegaRider: Adult £2.72, Youth £1.93
\- MegaRider Xtra: Adult £2.72, Youth N/A
\- Flexi 5: Adult £4.40, Youth £3.12
\- Flexi 10: Adult £3.85, Youth £2.73
\- Student Annual: £1.51
\- Small Group (3 people): £2.83 each
\- Large Group (5 people): £2.40 each
The Cambridgeshire Plus Zone cost of travel per day (unlimited) will be:
\- Day Ticket: Adult £9.00, Youth £6.40
\- 7 Day MegaRider: Adult £5.15, Youth £3.66
\- 28 Day MegaRider: Adult £4.11, Youth £2.93
\- MegaRider Xtra: Adult £4.11, Youth N/A
\- Flexi 5: Adult £7.20, Youth £5.12
\- Flexi 10: Adult £6.30, Youth £4.48
\- Student Annual: £1.87
\- Small Group (3 people): £4.00 each
\- Large Group (5 people): £3.80 each
The East region cost of travel per day (unlimited) will be:
\- Day Ticket: Adult £17.80, Youth £12.70
\- 7 Day MegaRider: Adult £8.00, Youth £5.43
\- 28 Day MegaRider: Adult £5.97, Youth £4.18
\- MegaRider Xtra: Adult £5.97, Youth N/A
\- Flexi 5: Adult £14.24, Youth £10.16
\- Flexi 10: Adult £12.46, Youth £8.89
\- Student Annual: £2.75
\- Small Group (3 people): £6.93 each
\- Large Group (5 people): £7.32 each
