National Express West Midlands, Go North West and Brighton & Hove are among those seeking to entice users back with offers and promotions

 
Left to right: West Midlands mayor Andy Street; NXWM master driver Rekha Sehdeva; NXWM boss David Bradford

 
Bus operators in England sought to capitalise on the removal of remaining Covid restrictions with a range of promotions.

National Express West Midlands responded with its biggest ever cuts to bus fares. The new ticket prices started on July 19 and bring the average commuter a saving of over £130 a year.

The bus company is making travelling cheaper and easier by dropping most of its fares, as well as guaranteeing that nobody will pay more for their bus travel than they do now.

A day bus ticket that’s valid all day for travel across the entire West Midlands will cost only £4. The price of a weekly bus pass
will drop from £17.50 to £15. And a child ticket will be £2 a day.

In addition, the bus company is bringing in contactless weekly ticket price capping.

National Express West Midlands managing director, David Bradford, said last week: “The cost of everything – including motoring – is going up. But from [July 19], half of bus customers will pay less than they do now, and nobody will pay more.

Our bus fare cuts mean that travelling all day will cost less than the price of a burger

“Our bus fare cuts mean that travelling all day will cost less than the price of a burger.”

Also commenting last week, Andy Street, the mayor of the West Midlands, said: “National Express’s fare cut is a fantastic decision that will help get our region back on the move as further restrictions are eased … Not only will all buses now be cheaper thanks to other operators following National Express’s lead, but they will be simpler to use too.

“Keeping fares low has always been one of my top transport priorities as mayor, and I am delighted that over the last four years we’ve had a fare freeze, with the price of the most popular ticket – the day ticket – staying at the same price since 2017.

We believe we will have the cheapest bus fares in England – saving the average commuter more than £130 every year

“Now, come Monday [July 19], we believe we will have the cheapest bus fares in England – saving the average commuter more than £130 every year.”

In Greater Manchester, Go North West announced plans to get behind the city’s re-opening as more lockdown restrictions are lifted. The Go-Ahead-owned bus company is sponsoring a major campaign highlighting the readiness of businesses from across the city – including shops, bars, restaurants and the local markets – to welcome people back. A double decker bus with specially designed exterior artwork declaring ‘Manchester, we’ve proper missed you’ has already hit the streets. Promotional adverts are being unveiled across Manchester throughout this week.

Go North East has put in place two major fares initiatives: the first is a new ‘Flexi’ 3, 5 and 10 day season tickets to support workers who are making a gradual return to office life. The second is the reduction of all evening fares to £1 after 7pm.

We know everyone wants to see the city get back to where it was and we are here to play our part in making that happen

Nigel Featham, managing director at Go North West, explained: “The lockdown has given everyone a new appreciation for what Manchester has to offer, and we want to lend our backing as it starts to re-open. We know everyone wants to see the city get back to where it was and we are here to play our part in making that happen.”

Go-Ahead’s Brighton & Hove Buses is meanwhile encouraging people to make the most of their staycations this summer and explore the Sussex coast and countryside. Brighton & Hove and Metrobus managing director Martin Harris said: “After spending so much time indoors during the pandemic and with most lockdown restrictions lifted now, it’s time to enjoy the county we live in, and venture further afield.”

Brighton & Hove’s family networkSAVER gives unlimited travel on any bus for up to five people (maximum of two adults) for just £9, if purchased on the app, or £10 from the driver.

 
This article appears in the latest issue of Passenger Transport.

DON’T MISS OUT – GET YOUR COPY! – click here to subscribe!