Changes to Fares & Ticketing - Stagecoach

Information received from Stagecoach

We are writing to you to let you know that from the 24th April Stagecoach will be introducing a number of changes to fares and ticketing around Wellingborough.

A lot has changed since we last introduced a comprehensive review of our fares and tickets in 2019. The pandemic has changed travel patterns and we have seen the government launch their National Bus Strategy: Bus Back Better. This strategy called for the industry and operators to respond to the strategy with simpler and easier to use ticketing. We were excited to work with North Northamptonshire Council on developing their Bus Service Improvement Plans (BSIP) and have been working to prepare for the delivery of these through Enhanced Parternships and we continue to expect these to be formally made.

Whilst it is hugely disappointing to us and our colleagues in the local authorities that government has not allocated any funding to support our BSIP proposals and the numerous initiatives within them, we will continue working to make changes to our services and tickets following the principles in Bus Back Better which we know will make a difference to customers and make travelling by bus easier and simpler.

To that end, the work we have been doing during the pandemic to help shape our response as we look to support our communities recovery has not gone to waste. We have taken the opportunity during the pandemic to reflect on customer feedback and what further simplification we can make to our ticket products and fares to help make travelling by bus easier, as well as continue to prepare for evolution of 'pay as you go' ticketing that we are working on delivering to our customers.

Of course the pandemic has not only had an impact on our passenger levels, which are still recovering and broadly in the range of 75% of their pre-covid volumes. But the cost of delivering services has also been increasing as we have seen the impact of the high inflation pressures being seen across the economy apply in our cost base.

The changes that we are making, which I set out the detail of below, are designed to make it simpler for our customers to know what fare is best for them and is easier to find, addressing one of the key barriers customers face when planning their travel – what will it cost me and how can I be assured that is the best ticket for me? We are delighted that for many customers this will see costs decrease or stay the same, but there will be customers who will see increases to their fares. We know that any increases in costs are unwelcome, particularly when there are wider pressures on household budgets but as emergency support for the industry is coming to an end during 2022 it is essential that we act to ensure that our services can be sustainable as we arrive at that point.

Below are the important details about how we are changing our fares:

Singles & Returns

There are currently 43 different adult single fares in and around Wellingbrough (plus 36 young person fares), and an equal number of different return fare values.

This will be reduced to six adult single fares and six young person single fares, with travel available for a single journey starting from £2(adult). We believe this simplified approach will be helpful to customers and enable us to attract people to use the bus with a clearer price message.

Return tickets will be removed, with customers making multiple trips able to achieve better value for money through our day ticket offering or for a small number of journeys two single fares.

DayRiders

Last year we expanded the area the Wellingborough DayRider covered, allowing customers to travel around Wellingborough, Raunds, Rushden, Finedon, Wilby, Great Doddington and Higham Ferrers. This was well received by customers who saved up to 45% on their travel. We are pleased to say that we have frozen the cost of the Wellingborough DayRider which will remain at £4.20.

The DayRider Gold which provides travel outside of this zone and across all of our services has also been frozen. This ticket is frequently used by customers travelling to Peterborough, Kettering, Corby, Northampton and beyond.

MegaRiders

These tickets provide 7 or 28 days of travel and are often purchased by commuters and regular travellers travelling 5 days a week or more. A Wellingborough 7 day ticket will be priced at £15.90 and 28 day £60.40.

The MegaRider Gold will be priced at £36.40 for 7 days travel or £138.30 for 28 days.

Group Travel

We are simplifying the definition of a group. Currently this is defined as 2 adults and upto 3 children or 3 adults. We recognise that this has caused confusion and uncertainty so moving forward this will simply become any 5 people. As I'm sure you appreciate this is a much easier message for people to understand, and we anticipate will make it easier for families and friends to make use of our services particularly when they are travelling for leisure and this will help to make the bus a more attractive and easier choice.

Hopefully you will agree that these changes make sense and will be helpful to customers.