Rip Off Bus Companies

[angrycommuter]

www.wymetro.com/News/080630-1.htm

It seems that both Arriva and First are trying to screw as much money out of their passengers as they can. The article is quite strongly worded from Metro which is unusual. Further to this, I read in the Evening Post that Arriva had bought all it's fuel needs for the next year, and into 2009 meaning that it is paying a miniscule 28 pence per litre for it's diesel. Any price increases in the next year that are due to "fule price rises", as quite simply based on a lie.

I know the companies are out to make a profit, but to increase prices, force Metro to increase the cost of the Metrocard and lie to passengers about the reasons for ever increasing fares is unacceptable.

[the110]

I totally agree with you but you can't just blame one bus company (Arriva) ALL big bus firms buy their fuel in advance it has been done this way for years. Metro have only put out this statement so that people don't blame them for the price increase. Why haven't they said this every time the prices go up? because nothing has changed only the fact that this time round the cost of living is rising so much. If the truth be known bus fares only really go up because of drivers wages.

[westyorkshirebus]

It is more strongly worded than you usually expect from Metro. As they've just got a new chairman, I'd expect more of the same over the next year whenever First or Arriva cut a service or raise a fare

I hadn't realised MetroCard prices were decided by a committee of operators and Metro, I wonder who is on that committee, how small an operator can be to get a vote

[jml8371]

Jul 1, 2008 9:20:57 GMT 1 the110 said:

I totally agree with you but you can't just blame one bus company (Arriva) ALL big bus firms buy their fuel in advance it has been done this way for years. Metro have only put out this statement so that people don't blame them for the price increase. Why haven't they said this every time the prices go up? because nothing has changed only the fact that this time round the cost of living is rising so much. If the truth be known bus fares only really go up because of drivers wages.

Not 100% true, they don't go up just because if drivers wages, but due to lots of other reasons.

Whilst diesel has been hedged for a couple of years in advance, there is also the all the other costs of running a company to take into count, exactly like your own costs of running your home, these also have to be taken into the mix for the running costs of the company. All I will say is look at the cost increases for gas & electric!!

On wages, all I can say is that our wage deal has not been agreed yet (and cannot comment on it as it is still under discussion) and what we have been offered is below the current CPI and RPI figure.

Jason
JML8371

[Craig]

Metro most definitely are only taking this strong stance to clear their blame from the price rise, after all the Metrocard does bear their name. Metro actually quite regularly criticise operators, this is nothing new.

While there is no debate about whether or not the bus operators' motive here is purely for increased profits, newspaper reports stating that companies buy fuel a year in advance for one-fifth of the current public retail price are perhaps taken with a good pinch of salt.

[glennh2]

The Halifax paper said Metro were outvoted 9-2 by the bus companies when it came to deciding in this rise so it does seem like it's not their fault

[A1YBG]

First Have come up with this. Making it sound like ur saving loads of money and getting more money out of us. Again Blaming Fuel Prices.

www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/yorkhumber/leeds/offers/?item=263

Unlike many things these days, here's one price increase you can avoid. Buy up front with a "Fuel Buster" ticket today and fix the cost of your bus travel for the next 6 months.

Buying the Fuel Buster ticket allows you to protect yourself against future price increases due to the rising fuel costs.

The ticket costs £300 for 6 months and if you already have a monthly pass you can upgrade and get the remaining cost discounted off the price of the Fuel Buster.

They will try anything!

[arriva]

remember they have to run a viable company and if fuels up fares go up.

[angrycommuter]

Fuel may have gone up, but the major operators purchased fuel in advance so they haven't seen any increase. This is what Metro and many passengers are peed off with. Does anyone know which companies get to vote on the prices of Metrocards? Also, who voted with Metro, as one of the posts above stated that the the vote went 9-2.

[jackh]

Also don't forget it is now just over three months since the nationwide concessionary free travel scheme was introduced. As you should all be aware, operators don't get the full cut for that Pass Holder who travels on their buses. Peter Shipp, chairman of the EYMS group has criticised the scheme. The way operators are reimbursed in England is less generous of that compared to Scotland and Wales where companies get about the same money from Govt. for that as a normal fare paying passenger.

So bus companies will now be starting to feel the pinch of the loss of revenue from pass holders. This tied with other increases in operating costs means that they will have to rise fares for normal passengers.

[Craig]

I have certainly read about the problems with the concessionary scheme but does anyone know what the arrangements are exactly?

[jml8371]

Jul 4, 2008 19:27:05 GMT 1 Craig said:

I have certainly read about the problems with the concessionary scheme but does anyone know what the arrangements are exactly?

I did overhear somewhere that the operators would be getting approx 60% of the standard fare for any concessionary pass taken.

Jason
JML8371