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Passengers angry at bus fares hike
From the Amesbury Journal, first published Wednesday 2nd Jun 2004.
A HUGE hike in bus fares has left Salisbury passengers reeling.
Dozens of angry commuters have been contacting the Journal, complaining that Wilts & Dorset fares have gone up by as much as 30 per cent on some routes.
According to the firm, new charges were introduced on May 23 as a result of higher insurance costs and the latest increase in fuel prices. Wilts & Dorset has also introduced a `simplified fare structure', which means ticket prices have been rounded up or reduced on some services.
Angry bus user Kevin Wood, of Firs Road, Firsdown, Winterslow, said: "Last week, the cost of a ticket from Firs Road to Salisbury was £2.45 return, and this has now gone up to £2.80.
"To get from our home in Firs Road to Tesco in Southampton Road and back costs my wife £4.50."
Journal reader Richard Merwood wrote in saying that the bus ride from his home in Wain-a-Long Road into the city centre had gone up from 60p to 80p.
The news will come as a blow to the city's transport chiefs, who have been encouraging commuters to ditch their cars and opt for public transport.
Wilts & Dorset operations manager for Salisbury Chris Gordon said: "We have tried to simplify the fare scale and go on to something a little easier."
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