I THINK it is excellent news that First York has put its fares up for the third time in less than a year.

Not because people should pay more, but because people might finally switch to other local operators who do offer value-for-money fares.

I often travel to Fulford cemetery to visit my nan's grave and have always used the frequent and reliable Arriva services from Piccadilly. I gave 50p on each single journey compared with the First York fare.

Indeed, to the Designer Outlet the Arriva fare is 60p cheaper each way than First York's. Arriva fares are also 60p cheaper each way to Fulford church and anyone wanting Fulford Road or the police station will find Arriva fares save them lots compared with First York.

Anyone living in Poppleton, Boroughbridge Road or Poppleton Road will also find that using Arriva services to and from Ripon will save them lots of money and Arriva services to and from Wetherby will save an Acomb resident 50p each way into York. These will also take Acomb residents directly to the Designer Outlet.

One of the biggest savings for York residents is for those fortunate souls living in Holgate. From the Fox Inn, First York charge £1.50 single into York, but Arriva charges only 70p and there is a choice of services from both Ripon and Wetherby.

Yorkshire Coastliner has planned a 15-minute frequency in the near future and anyone using their reliable services will save money too. A current return fare from Dringhouses church or Stockton Lane into the city centre saves a passenger 50p on the equivalent First York journey and those living by Heworth church are luckier still. A return into central York on the Coastliner is 90p cheaper than by First York.

If every competitor of First can offer cheaper fares it sounds as if First does not deserve any passengers at all. The company does not even have a city centre inquiry office. For details of fares and alternative services I suggest people phone the Traveline on 0870 608 2 608 or call into the Traveline office at 20 Rougier Street.

J Forbes,

Millfield Lane,

York.

Updated: 10:04 Thursday, January 19, 2006