Bus firm to raise fares

Oldham-based First, Greater Manchester’s biggest bus company, is increasing almost all its fares and blaming the imminent rise in the cost of concessionary tickets.
First Manchester says it needs to raise single fares by up to 20p to recover a shortfall which will be created when schoolchildren and pensioners are moved from a flat 80p concessionary rate before 9.30am to half the commercial fare, from Sunday.

The company insists it will try to cover as much as possible through internal cost reductions.

In a letter to members of Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority, managing director Richard Soper says the net increase is below inflation and the increase will be held to 10p on the two most popular single tickets.

The decision to scrap the 80p concessionary fare was taken by council leaders at the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities.

There is little sympathy for First which already has the highest fares in Greater Manchester.

GMITA member Councillor Roger Jones said: “There is no justification for these fare increases. Bus fares are already too high.”


Oldham is set to benefit from a £160 million order for state-of-the-art hybrid buses.
FirstGroup is buying 955 “green” vehicles. and First Manchester, which runs bus services in Oldham, will be getting 14 of the new hybrid buses for its fleet across Greater Manchester.