Fears over bus fare increases

Paul John Coulter • Published 21 Feb 2012 13:30 2 Comments

BUS passengers could face a steep hike in fares because of changes to a grant which supports route operators.

Local members of the Scottish Conservative Party say that changes to the Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) - given to firms by the Scottish Government to offset rising fuel costs - could see funding for companies fall by up to a fifth. They are concerned passengers could bear the brunt of the changes with increased fares.

The BSOG is intended to benefit passengers by helping operators to keep their fares down and enabling them to run services that might not otherwise be commercially viable.

But the method used to calculate the rebate is to change from a calculation of fuel used to a per-kilometre basis.

Graeme Brooks, pictured, chairman of Inverclyde and Renfrewshire Conservative Association, fears this could cause a rise in fares.

Mr Brooks said: "A new way of calculating the payments could mean fare increases and service cuts in Inverclyde. Many people rely on these services to travel.

"The SNP Government needs to get a grip of their priorities and seriously consider reversing these cuts."

The BSOG changes are due to take effect as of 1 April.

Scottish Government transport minister Keith Brown said: "When BSOG payment calculations change in April, we will be in a better position to encourage fuel efficiency and redistribute benefits, principally to rural areas. We would expect the bus industry in Scotland to act responsibly whenever they are looking to set bus fares."

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This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 21 Feb 12

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

• 

  wig-wam-tam
  419 posts
  Feb 21, 16:52
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  Remind me, what party privatised the buses in the first place and now their apologist is worried about subsidies to them?
  
  Recommend?   Yes 11     No 2

• 

  ******
  Feb 21, 19:19
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  This comment has been removed by a moderator

• 

  ******
  Feb 21, 21:12
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• 

  james4
  6 posts
  Feb 28, 13:02
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  The bus fares are already a total rip off, also the bus times have been cut enough, McGills run the bus company for sheer profit not for the public.
  
  Recommend?   Yes 0     No 0

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