BUS passengers in York will have to pay more, after the city’s main operator announced it was increasing fares by up to ten per cent.

The announcement from First York came only days after a leading councillor called for the company to be penalised for their rising ticket prices and poor punctuality.

Councillor James Alexander, leader of the Labour group on City of York Council, said this was the ninth price hike in seven years. “Since 2003, all First York fares have risen from between 38 per cent and 120 per cent.

“Such rises, coupled with poor punctuality figures, are why people are choosing to get back in their cars, leading to more congestion,” he said.

“Furthermore, these price increases will hurt the poorest who rely on the bus to get to work. It is not on. York deserves better.”

Richard Harris, commercial director for First in York, said fares had not changed in 18 months, despite a challenging economic climate and rising costs.

He said: “We have now reached the point that we have had to look at changing some of our fares, for the first time in 18 months. This is to ensure our business can meet these rising costs and therefore we have made an overall four per cent increase to our fares,” he said.

“The good news is that our day and week tickets, as well as the Park&Ride tickets, will remain unaltered.

“This will allow some customers who currently buy single tickets to assess whether they may be better to buy a multiuse ticket to save money.”


The rise in fares on First buses will take effect from July 25, and exact increases will depend on the ticket bought.

• Return fares costing £3 will rise to £3.20
• £1 fares go up to £1.10
• £1.60 fares go up to £1.70
• £1.90 fares go up to £2
• £2.70 fares go up to £2.80
• FirstNight fares now £2.60
• Child YoZone singles now 70p
• Moneysaver tickets (FirstDay/ Family/Week) are unchanged