Edinburgh Lothian buses have today announced a considerable increase in travel fares with a day ticket now costing £5.
The new fares are due to come into effect on April 2 2023 with adult single fares increasing by 20p, while adult day tickets will increase by 50p.
This is the first time in three years that Lothian buses have introduced an increase to their travel which was last surged in 2020 and will affect Lothian, Lothian Country and East Coast buses services.
READ MORE - Fuming pregnant Edinburgh woman 'can't get pram in garden' as neighbours build fence
An adult singe is increasing to £2 up by 20p, with a day ticket now costing £5 up by 50p from the last increase.
However, if you use contactless for a day ticket you will only be charged £4.80 which is still a 40p increase but will save you 20p.
Children will also see an increase in their fares with a single now costing £1 up by 10p and a day ticket costing £2.50 up by 30p.
The biggest increase on Lothian buses is the monthly and annual tickets with an yearly now costing £650 which is a £50 increase.
A monthly which costs £56 at the moment will see an increase of £6 to £62.
A full list of increases can be viewed in the table below.
Sarah Boyd, Managing Director at Lothian, said: “As one of Edinburgh’s main local employers, we are committed to developing and contributing to the economic and social wellbeing of our operating area and communities, and delivering an inclusive and accessible bus service which represents value for money.
“With operating costs continuing to rise, we will be making changes to our fares from 2 April in order to prioritise investment in our fleet, our people and our customer offering. While no fare increase is welcome and we are aware of the cost pressures being faced by our customers, we strongly believe our fares continue to represent excellent value for money.
“In the three years since we last undertook a fares review, our business has encountered a number of challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic, industry-wide recruitment shortages and continually rising costs.
“With patronage still not at pre-pandemic levels and all fares revenue going directly back into the running of our business, it is therefore vital that as a commercial bus operator we make decisions now that will futureproof the viability of our network for our customers and our colleagues.
“As we look to the future, our priorities and focus will remain on rebuilding Lothian and taking positive steps towards achieving our vision for decarbonisation and achieving the net zero aspirations set by the Scottish Government and Local Authority shareholders.”
With the popularity of capped contactless payments increasing, customers on Lothian services using the same contactless card or device all day will continue to benefit from the cheapest daily adult fare, saving 20p on the revised DAYticket price. For more information visit www.lothianbuses.co.uk
READ NEXT:
Passport warning issued to Edinburgh holidaymakers travelling to Spain
Loved-up Outlander star shares glam snaps from 'secret' Midlothian wedding ceremony
Stunning Edinburgh duplex in historic 19th century courtyard hits market
Laura Anderson drops 'major hint' about baby's gender as star shows off blossoming bump
Edinburgh snow and ice weather warning extended as wintry weather to cause havoc
