Bus fares bound for six per cent rise

COMMUTERS face further fare fury after bus company First became the latest to announce an increase in ticket prices.

Passengers will see an average rise of six per cent across Oldham and Greater Manchester from January 2, 2012. Journeys will be hit with rises of between 10p and 30p, though children’s fares have been frozen or reduced. The announcement comes just a day after the Association of Train Operating Companies said a 5.9 per cent hike in train fares will be introduced in January.

First bosses blame the increase on the combined impact of rising fuel costs and a reduction of the fuel-duty rebate.

Dave Alexander, regional managing director for First in the North, said: “We appreciate nobody likes it when prices go up but we have worked hard to keep any increases to a minimum by introducing savings within our business to off-set cost increases.”

Child day and week tickets have been reduced to £2 and £7 respectively, the latter for a three-month trial period. Children using a weekly ticket to catch a daily school will travel for 70p per journey.