Bus Fares

vfish

podperson wrote: »

Got a First bus this morning and it was still cheaper fares. Tbh they are rather daft if they don't take advantage of the fact they are cheaper for once - my route has both Lothian and First buses running so normally I will get whichever comes first. If the First is cheaper then will wait an extra few minutes for it. Don't think they are extortionate really, travelled to the Borders from Edinburgh last weekend, took about an hour and cost me £8.50 return, which is probably comparable to a train journey of the same time.

They're both £1.40 within the city - took both sorts this week! I think the issue here in Edinburgh is that I can travel 20 miles to East Lothian from the end of my road by Lothian Buses for £1.40 but because of a decision made a long time ago, I have to pay more than twice that to travel less than half the distance and stay in the city. Edinburgh Council owns a lot of Lothian Buses but Edinburgh tax payers in Kirkliston and Queensferry don't benefit from using them locally and paying the £1.40 flat fare - I can understand why that's an issue.

teeb

Sugardonut wrote: »

First Bus have a monopoly so they can get away with thes underhand tactics - can't help but feel if we had more choice in bus operators the fares would be cheaper.

On my local Glasgow route, there are three different companies: Stagecoach (every half hour), a local independent bus company and FirstBus. Their fares are £1.35, £1.50 and £1.85 single respectively.

The difference is that £1.85 is the FirstBus minimum (or £2 since they don't give change), and the other two charge 90p minimum for a short trip and give change.

Even on routes where there is competition FirstBus are happy to squeeze every penny out of you and rip you off.

Derivative

teeb wrote: »

On my local Glasgow route, there are three different companies: Stagecoach (every half hour), a local independent bus company and FirstBus. Their fares are £1.35, £1.50 and £1.85 single respectively.

The difference is that £1.85 is the FirstBus minimum (or £2 since they don't give change), and the other two charge 90p minimum for a short trip and give change.

Even on routes where there is competition FirstBus are happy to squeeze every penny out of you and rip you off.

It's hardly ripping you off if you know full well you could get another bus and choose to pay the extra anyway.

Sounds to me like a premium for a faster bus service (waiting at the stop for less time).

podperson

vfish wrote: »

They're both £1.40 within the city - took both sorts this week!

Either the First drivers like me or don't like you as I paid £1.30 again this morning

vfish

podperson wrote: »

Either the First drivers like me or don't like you as I paid £1.30 again this morning

What does your ticket say? I'm very willing to believe they don't actually check what you pay when you ask for a single but I'd be surprised if it didn't say £1.40 on it.

davenport151

Sugardonut wrote: »

First Bus have a monopoly so they can get away with thes underhand tactics - can't help but feel if we had more choice in bus operators the fares would be cheaper.

We have the same problem in our area, but its Stagecoach. Around here a child single costs £1.40. An adult one is £1.80.

podperson

vfish wrote: »

What does your ticket say? I'm very willing to believe they don't actually check what you pay when you ask for a single but I'd be surprised if it didn't say £1.40 on it.

You had me intrigued so actually asked the driver this morning this morning whether it was £1.40 or £1.30 - he said they're still £1.30 and that's what it says on my ticket. I wonder if they're just not correcting people who're assuming their prices have gone up as well - nice earner for them there if so!

vfish

podperson wrote: »

You had me intrigued so actually asked the driver this morning this morning whether it was £1.40 or £1.30 - he said they're still £1.30 and that's what it says on my ticket. I wonder if they're just not correcting people who're assuming their prices have gone up as well - nice earner for them there if so!

I did the same, asked the driver, checked my ticket and mine says £1.40! I'm getting the 18 which stays within the city boundaries (replacing a lothian bus during the off peak hours because they won the subsidy money) -are you getting a bus from further away that is passing through the city - like a bus from Bathgate or something?

If not I think I'll be writing to First to complain that they're breaking their advertised fare structure simply because they have a monopoly on that one route!

podperson

I get the 44 which goes from Balerno to Tranent so going to the outskirts but think they still class it as broadly within the city limits (personally I think it could be debatable but on their route planners, website, etc they do count the outlying areas like Balerno and even South Queensferry as part of Edinburgh). It's exactly the same route as the Lothian bus takes anyway.

OrkneyStar

teeb wrote: »

On my local Glasgow route, there are three different companies: Stagecoach (every half hour), a local independent bus company and FirstBus. Their fares are £1.35, £1.50 and £1.85 single respectively.

The difference is that £1.85 is the FirstBus minimum (or £2 since they don't give change), and the other two charge 90p minimum for a short trip and give change.

Even on routes where there is competition FirstBus are happy to squeeze every penny out of you and rip you off.

No, £1.85 if you put the correct money in! Simples!
That said my mum lives in First Bus area, near Glasgow. She has an OAP pass (and a free ticket as dad worked for the bus company that is now first bus) but she was saying a First Day from where she lives to Glasgow (outwith city limits, approx 9 miles) is £5, which seems a lot, especially for a family of two adults! She says the bus service is getting worse, every half hour if they come!