Burnley MP Oliver Ryan welcomes Transdev back down on planned fare increase but says it's still not enough
Transdev’s Burnley Bus Company has partially backed down on its planned under-19 fare hike after a campaign by local MP Oliver Ryan – who has warned that the changes are still ‘not good enough’ and that the campaign will continue.
As we reported earlier, the company is scrapping local area tickets and moving to a single Lancashire-wide product.
Burnley MP Oliver Ryan believes that while this is being presented as a simplification, the change means that many people who rely on buses for everyday journeys – including the school run and getting to work – will end up paying more.
From Sunday, the weekly Lancashire 7 under-19 ticket will be priced at £18, a £2 reduction from the previously announced £20. However, this still represents a rise from £13.30 to £18 – a 35% increase for families.
The climbdown follows a campaign led by Mr Ryan, including a petition signed by over 1,000 residents and representations to Transdev’s senior leadership.
Despite welcoming the fact that the company has responded to public pressure, Mr Ryan says the revised price still misses the point.
“They’re listening and we’ve made a dent. That’s important,” he said. “But this is still not good enough. A 35% hike is not fair.
“They’ve entirely missed the point. It’s a Burnley ticket we’re asking for, not a Lancashire one. Getting kids to school should be easier, not harder. Until there is a reasonable price offered, and preferably a proper Burnley bus ticket back on the table, this fight is not over.
“We will not stand by and watch a global mega-giant rip off families across our town - it’s not on.”