First has announced a package of reduced fares of up to 30% on Leeds and Bradford bus services which take effect from Sunday, January 5, 2014.
First claims the fare cuts could save regular bus users over £250 per year. Passenger Focus has welcomed the announcement.
InLeedsthe £3.90 off-peak day ticket will be extended for use all day giving tens of thousands of morning commuters a saving of 70p per day. Additionally, a new Leeds weekly ticket will be introduced at £14 giving seven days unlimited travel within the Leeds metropolitan district boundary for £2 per day – a saving of £5.50 per week for many Leeds commuters.
The new Leeds weekly ticket will replace the current “green zone” week ticket which is limited to inner Leeds, and now gives those customers access to the whole First Leeds bus network for just 50p extra per week. Alternatively, current Green Zone customers can buy a new Leeds-wide monthly ticket for £52 which offers a saving on buying the current Green Zone tickets.
In Bradford, customers can take advantage of a £1 cut to the week ticket to £14 while at the same time the Bradford day ticket will rise to £3.90 from £3.70
Customers who choose to use the bus more often can take advantage of reduced monthly and annual ticket prices in either Leeds or Bradford.
Dave Alexander, Regional Managing Director for First in the North of England said: “We are delighted to introduce these latest fare cuts on buses in Leeds and Bradford.
“We have demonstrated that by offering even better value for money, together with improvements to our services, we can attract new passengers onto our buses. The level of these fare cuts in Leeds and Bradford have been made possible because of growing confidence in our stronger partnership working with Metro and the local councils.
“Our aim in 2014 is to continue to give value-for-money to our customers and to build upon improvements in punctuality and customer satisfaction which will be helped by further investment in new vehicles.”
David Sidebottom, Passenger Focus Director, said: “Passengers in West Yorkshire, especially those who rely on the bus for work, will be happy to hear that First is making most bus fares cheaper.
“Our most recent passenger survey showed that 56% of fare-paying passengers in West Yorkshire felt that their ticket was value for money, so these fare cuts should help to improve these scores.”
