Stagecoach East has confirmed it will increase bus fares for passengers using its services in Cambridgeshire from early next year. 

The changes will come into affect from Sunday, January 8, 2023 where the regional bus operator will continue to offer the same ticket types but at slightly different prices. 

Stagecoach says it has taken ‘steps to protect its passengers’ with below inflation increases, with the new ticket prices adding on average 39p onto the cost of daily bus travel for adults. 

The operator will also be maintaining its £1 single ticket between Cambridge rail station, the Biomedical Campus and the City Centre. 

The money from fares goes towards paying for the day-to-day running of services as well as investing in new buses and other customer improvements, which Stagecoach says is ‘essential for retaining services’. 

It also covers additional costs including paying government taxes which support public services. 

Managing Director for Stagecoach East, Darren Roe, said: “Stagecoach has consistently delivered some of the lowest ticket prices in the country and we are committed to continuing to keep fares as low as possible for our passengers. 

“However, businesses such as Stagecoach have been facing significantly increased costs which continue to put pressure on fares.” 

Stagecoach East has invested £7.2m in the ZEBRA project, in partnership with the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, to enable a fleet of 30 fully electric vehicles to enter service in Cambridge in 2023. 

The operator also launched its fare simplification project earlier this year, which restructured fares and introduced new affordable and flexible ticket options such as Flexi and Youth, to offer better value and more flexibility to match some of the new travelling patterns seen coming out of the pandemic. 

From January 8, 2023, passengers can travel for the following prices per day. 

Ely Standard: From January 8, 2023, passengers can travel for the following prices per day. From January 8, 2023, passengers can travel for the following prices per day. (Image: Stagecoach East)

These price increases are the first increases made by Stagecoach for four and a half years, since 2018, and are below the annual rate of inflation of 10.7 per cent. 

It is also the first increase in Park & Ride return tickets in over six years. 

Mr Roe said Stagecoach has worked hard to absorb as many of these costs as possible to keep fare increases below the level of inflation. 

He said in order to facilitate this increase, and keep up with inflation of operational and fuel costs, the operator has no option but to ‘slightly increase’ its fares. 

“We acknowledge that these are challenging times, but like many business and local authorities in the East, we are having to make difficult decisions to keep essential services running,” he said. 

“Our teams are working incredibly hard to tackle the ongoing driver shortage issue, which is affecting the wider transport and logistics sector, and currently we have 71 new recruits in our training school pipeline.” 

Mr Roe said he hopes to see these issues ease in the coming weeks, as more new drivers hit the road in Cambridgeshire. 

“We remain focused on offering a wide range of value tickets and with our 28 Day Megarider Town ticket, adults will be able to enjoy unlimited bus travel for just £2.25 per day. 

“We are also pleased to launch our ‘18 Again’ initiative, to offer our adult passengers the opportunity to access great value bus travel by purchasing a seven- or 28-day Megarider ticket for Youth price, valid until the end of the year. 

“This offer will enable adult passengers to enjoy a discount on their bus travel of 33 per cent.” 

Mr Roe hopes the offers will encourage more people to travel by bus when it comes to exploring the local area or travelling to work, education, or leisure activities.” 

For more information about ticketing and fares, visit https://www.stagecoachbus.com/promos-and-offers/east/guide-to-tickets-east