Stagecoach East says it is simplifying its fares and tickets to make bus travel more straightforward and convenient. New ticket options are now available across the region, which it says will offer more flexible and cost-effective travel options, with 92% of customers paying the same or less for their bus tickets.
Changes include the removal of return tickets, apart from on Bedford and Cambridge park & ride services, with customers encouraged to use a DayRider instead; the operator said that its changes have seen 95% of DayRider tickets reduced in price.
Following a successful trial of the Flexi ticket in Cambridge, the firm will now be offering the Flexi 5 and Flexi 10 tickets across Bedfordshire, Peterborough and the wider Cambridgeshire area. Flexi tickets are bundles of 5 or 10 DayRider tickets which are valid for 12 months, saving up to 30% on the cost. From 4 January, Cambridge customers will pay less for Flexi tickets, which are available exclusively on the Stagecoach Bus app along with a similar product for young people. The firm said that its new Youth ticket range is designed to ensure that bus travel is good value for young people; Youth tickets give under 19s and students with valid ID the freedom to travel and stay connected in the area with tickets priced at 33% less than adult ticket equivalents.
Darren Roe, Managing Director of Stagecoach East said: “We understand that working and travel patterns have changed due to the pandemic, with more people than ever before now working flexible hours. We also recognise that complex timetables and ticket types can be confusing and off-putting to customers.
“We have therefore introduced new ticket types to simplify our bus fares and ensure that bus travel is convenient, affordable and straight-forward. We’re pleased to introduce the new ticket types and to offer 92% of our customers the same or a cheaper priced bus ticket. We hope these new fares will make bus travel more convenient for new and existing customers.”
Stagecoach says it has also simplified Group ticket types, offering a ‘Small Group ticket’ including one adult and two youths at the cost of an adult DayRider plus £2, and a ‘Large Group ticket’ which includes up to five people of any age and offers savings of up to 60%.
