Fares
For many years we have charged a standard fare of £1 at all times for children travelling on our town buses, and we recently extended this to anyone aged under 20 and carrying appropriate ID. We also offer a day ticket for £2, a one week ticket for £10 and a 4 week ticket for £32.
From 1st September 2016 we will be increasing the child fare for journeys starting before 0830 on Mondays to Fridays to £1.20 and the price of the 10 trip ticket to £9.50. This change is necessary because of underlying increases in costs since the last review of fares was undertaken and because of cuts in other fares revenue from Suffolk County Council. The most regular users who travel twice in a day, or commit to buying weekly or 4 weekly tickets will not see any change in fares, but less regular users will face an increase reflecting the fact that we need to provide capacity for them even if they are not using the bus. There is no time limit on using up 10 trip tickets bought at the old price. The child fare will still be £1 from 0830 on Mondays to Fridays and all day at weekends and on Bank Holidays.
For a carer taking children to school a new “One PLUS Three” ticket will be available at any time, giving unlimited travel on our town buses all that day for one adult and up to three children for £6.50. This will offer a significant discount compared to other on the day tickets when the first journey is before 1000 on schooldays. We are writing to you now so that everyone is able to consider what impact these changes might have upon their travel choices as they prepare for the new school year in September.
Timetable changes
Following cuts in concessionary fares payments by Suffolk County Council we have had to make reductions to the number of journeys on routes 14 and 19 from 4thSeptember 2016. Route 14 currently operates hourly, but there will consequently be longer gaps in the timetable. We believe the revised timetable will still provide the necessary lifeline to those who cannot walk up the steep hills on this route. Route 19 currently runs every 30 minutes but will now run broadly hourly before 0900 and after 1500.
Following the withdrawal of First’s route 53 we will be increasing the frequency of route 13 to operate every 10 minutes all day. This should ensure that the large numbers of commuters and students depending on this busy route will be accommodated despite it being abandoned by First.
We will also be adjusting a number of other journeys to improve time-keeping.
Jeremy Cooper
Managing Director
Ipswich Buses Ltd
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