Cheer as fares on buses frozen

The company yesterday announced that it was freezing its fares across the county.

First’s move came amid mounting anger at inflation-busting rail ticket price rises, introduced earlier this week.

It also followed the decision of another local bus firm, Arriva Yorkshire, to hike some prices.

A spokesman for First, Leeds’s biggest bus operator, said: “We are happy to announce that we will be freezing the price of our fares.

“A comprehensive price freeze on all our tickets makes them value for money, especially at a time when fuel is expensive and people are returning to work after the Christmas break.”

First was unable to say how long the freeze would remain in place. The operator last put up its fares at the beginning of 2012.

News of the freeze was welcomed by Leeds West Labour MP Rachel Reeves, who has been a vocal campaigner for the city’s bus passengers to be given a better deal.

Ms Reeves said: “I am pleased First have chosen to freeze their fares, especially at a time when many working people and families in my constituency are feeling their incomes squeezed.

“I hope First will also continue to improve services for their passengers in other ways, as I am still receiving complaints regarding unreliable services in my area, which turns people away from bus travel.”

A number of Arriva Yorkshire’s single fares will go up by either 5p or 10p from Sunday, January 13.

Regulated rail fares, which include season tickets, rose by an average of 4.2 per cent nationwide on Wednesday.

The average regulated fare increase in West Yorkshire, however, was 6.2 per cent, owing to a funding deal that provided extra carriages for the county’s busy rail routes.