Our main village bus operator has announced today that it’s putting up all fares from this Sunday in response to what it calls “significantly increased operating costs”.
Nottingham City Transport (NCT), which runs our Navy 3 and Green 10 services, is blaming fuel and staffing costs being much higher than at the start of the year. It says diesel is costing them up to 50% more with the ‘BioGas’ price almost doubled.
NCT explains that its drivers’ salaries have also increased by between 8.5% and 9.5% this year, in response to the national shortage of bus drivers – with higher rates of pay introduced to recruit new drivers and minimise cancellations that are affecting the whole industry. However, the operator assures passengers that it’s continuing to absorb much of the higher costs being faced by putting up fares by an average of only 6%, even though inflation has now reached 10.1% and is likely to rise even further.
NCT’s Managing Director, David Astill says: “We appreciate these are difficult times for all and our business is contending with cost increases too. We have absorbed as much of the increase in staffing and fuel costs as we can and as a result, the increase on our main fares is well below the current rate of inflation.”
The new prices, which apply across all payment methods from Sunday 28th August 2022, will see a standard single fare from Ruddington to the city increase to £2.50 for adults, £1.50 for those under 19 and £2.00 for students via the ‘NCTX Buses’ App or ‘Robin Hood Pay As You Go’ only.
Mr Astill adds: “We are confident our fares continue to offer value for money, with many discounted fare options for the regular traveller.”
Full details of all NCT’s price rises and the various fare options can be found >>HERE<<.
