Bus fares in the capital are being put up and local services being axed as Lothian Buses struggles with cuts in government funding.
Lothian Buses services are being axed after the SNP Government announced plans to cut the Bus Service Operators Grant. The grant was originally intended to benefit bus users and compensate firms for rises in fuel duty and has become a real lifeline to local bus services, particularly in rural areas.
These SNP cuts combined with a new way of calculating the payments, have resulted in fare increases and service withdrawals serving Drum Brae / Gyle.
The 48 & X48 are being withdrawn and I know that many local people, particularly those who do not drive, rely on these services to travel to work or to visit friends and family.
Bus fares in Edinburgh are going up from March 4th.
The cost of a single journey for adults on Lothian Buses will rise by more than 7% to £1.40, whilst a day ticket will go up from £3.20 to £3.50. The annual price of the Ridacard bus pass is set to go up by £36 to £612.
Student, child, Airlink and night bus fares will not be put up.
The SNP Government needs to get a grip of their priorities and seriously consider reversing these cuts. Local bus operators are already struggling to maintain services in the face of sky-high fuel prices and a number of other pressures on their budgets.
Whilst this money was originally intended as a means of sheltering local bus firms – and therefore bus passengers – from rising fuel prices, the Scottish Government has broken the link to fuel duty going up, allowing them to introduce cuts such as we are seeing now.
Changes to the mechanism used to calculate payments will also lead to discrepancies between rural and urban areas. Because of the way these payments are made, in some areas the cuts could be nearer to 40%.
It is time the SNP realised the damage these cuts will cause to local communities and reversed their decision.
A statement from Ian Craig, Managing Director of Lothian Buses has been posted on the company's website: "We endeavour to keep ticket prices as low as possible but this is an extremely challenging time for everyone. As with the majority of public transport providers, we have had to review our prices as a result of government funding cuts and rising operating costs."
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