Nouse.co.uk » FTR reduced fare trial to be a permanent fixture

FTR reduced fare trial to be a permanent fixture

January 20, 2009 | ONLINE ONLY
Laura Connor

First have announced that they will keep their trial fares at a reduced price, after they decided to temporarily lower the prices of their bus fares to York last year.

The fares will continue as they were last term, with a single fare priced at £1.50 and a return fare for £2.00, on the presentation of a student card. These will now be the permanent prices for all bus fares into York city centre.

The decision comes after YUSU voiced student dissatisfaction to FTR following an increase in fares in March of last year. The company said that it would need to see around a 45% rise in patronage before lower prices could be viable. There was a fear that the trial would fail over the summer, as less people travelled due to the good weather and because of examinations.

Despite this, the price of a student return fare has been reduced by a substantial 90p, which Matt Burton, YUSU’s Services and Finance officer, sees as “good value for students in York, compared to the standard rate [of £2.90].” After the March 2008 trial was deemed a success, FTR officials announced in May 2008 that they were planning a second trial. After the trail’s overall success, the prices have been resolved as permanent fixtures.

It is felt that the permanent reduction of the single fare to £1.50 will also be an advantageous move for students, in addition to the return fare. Charlotte Hudson, FTR’s Marketing Manager, says that it is helpful if, for example, a student gets stuck in town. She feels that with the reduced fare people can “always get home if they haven’t got a return.”

Burton agrees that the reduction of the single fare is also a positive move: “The £1.50 rate also makes it a good alternative to getting a taxi, and definitely compared to the risks of walking home alone.” With safety issues being paramount, he also feels that the reduction of these fares, in addition to the night bus – the 4U service – provides a “safe, reliable method of transport for students on an evening, now until 3.15am from the city.”

The move is also seen as useful for students going to and from the train station at the end of term, especially for those who face long journeys.