Originally published on January 20th, 2009

Public transport in Edinburgh has become more expensive following decisions this week by two major Edinburgh bus companies to revise their fares, raising the price of a single journey to £1.20.

Lothian Buses, the main company providing services within the city, has reacted to rising fuel prices and pressure to protect their staff’s livelihoods by increasing their fares for the second time in under ten months.

The increases, which came into effect on Sunday, will also see the price of a monthly student pass rise to £35.

In a statement on the company’s website, Managing Director Ian Craig stated that: "The operation of bus services is labour-intensive and the cost of staff salaries is our largest single cost."

He added that the company aims to keep labour costs "stable and predictable well into 2010", and that the price rise could help to ensure stability during the current economic turmoil.

Lothian Buses have also cited the rising price of energy as a contributing factor in the latest revision of their fares. The company buys over 20 million litres of diesel each year. Unlike airlines, bus companies cannot levy a fuel surcharge on their tickets and so have to absorb the costs of the violently fluctuating oil markets.

The basic fare was last raised in April 2008, when the price rose to £1.10, having previously stood at £1 since March 2000.

Since Sunday a single adult ticket costs £1.20 and an all-day DayRider pass costs £3.00. The company’s Ridacard season pass, which is especially popular among students, will now cost students £35 per month or £456 annually. Furthermore, the Airlink, the popular airport shuttle service vital for Edinburgh’s tourism industry, has not escaped the fare rises and now costs £6 for a return ticket.

FirstGroup, which provides services linking Edinburgh to towns and villages in the Borders, has also put up fares on its South East and Central Scotland services to match their competitor with £1.20 single tickets.

Paul Thomas, Managing Director of First Scotland East, commented that: "With the cost of running a car outstripping the rate of inflation by 34 per cent over the last decade, I have complete confidence that, taking these fare changes into account, First continues to offer extremely
competitive fares and value for money services."

"Decisions to revise fares are not taken lightly and I am confident that we have done all we can to keep fare increases to a minimum while continuing to provide a quality bus service in Edinburgh and the Lothians."