£2 bus fare cap: Fears passengers won't get discount because some operators not ready
Scheme due to be launched on Monday - just six days after announcement
Bus passengers may be unable to get new £2 maximum fares when the scheme is extended to the west of Scotland on Monday because some operators have been given insufficient time to prepare, MSPs have warned.
They were told that bus firms were not informed when the capped fares would be introduced until Tuesday - when it was also announced by First Minister John Swinney - giving just six days’ notice.
Operators’ participation in the scheme is voluntary, as it has been in the original trial in the Highlands, which was launched in the spring with several firms including Flixbus opting not to take part.
First Glasgow and Stagecoach - two of the largest operators in the west of Scotland - confirmed on Wednesday they will take part, along with Scottish Citylink. McGill’s Buses later also confirmed they would take part.
Willie Rennie, convener of the Scottish Parliament’s transport committee, said it was “astonishing” to hear bus operators had not been given more notice or told how much compensation they would receive.
The Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP told the committee on Wednesday: “So it’s no surprise that some of the small operators have not signed up.
“We could end up with a situation on Monday that somebody goes and expected to pay £2 for their fare and they’re having to pay more.”
Committee member and Reform UK Scotland transport spokesperson Graham Simpson said: “I do have that concern that in Strathclyde where there are a lot of bus operators, that the smaller companies just haven’t got the capacity staff-wise to introduce this at that timescale.
“They may get there, or they may choose not to, so I think for the passenger, there could be areas in that region where you can’t get a bus next week for £2.”
He said later: “Transport Scotland must tell us the picture or passengers will be confused and bus companies could be left to deal with the fallout.”
Scottish Labour transport spokesperson Daniel Johnson said: “It beggars belief that the SNP hasn’t actually done the work to deliver its big announcement on bus fares.
“John Swinney must come clean and clarify exactly how many bus operators are signed up to the scheme so far.
“The SNP must give a cast iron guarantee that their policy will be delivered in full - for all local journeys across these regions.”
Greig Mackay, director for Scotland at Bus Users UK, told the committee: “It’s going to be bad publicity for bus. From a public perception, it’s going to be ‘I was told it was going to be £2, why is it not?
“You are also putting drivers and front line staff in a bit of a predicament because it’s beyond their control and yet they’re going to bear the brunt of it because they are going to have passengers complaining.”
A bus industry source said: “Not all operators have their grant offer letters yet and the take from Transport Scotland at this stage is essentially: Take it or leave it.
“It gave one operator a day to review and come back on the offer, which is a hugely significant commercial intervention into his business, when he also had to drive school contracts that day.”
But they added: “It will go ahead. Once one domino falls the others really have no choice but to commit.”
Fiona Doherty, managing director of Stagecoach South Scotland, said: “We’re pleased to support the Scottish government’s £2 single fare initiative, giving customers across Ayrshire and the wider west of Scotland another affordable and convenient way to travel by bus.”
A spokesperson for First Bus said: “We welcome the expansion of the £2 single fare cap to the Strathclyde region by Transport Scotland.
“We will continue to work in partnership with national, regional and local government to ensure the £2 fare cap is a success and helps to keep current customers as well as attract new passengers to travel by bus.”
Scottish Citylink said it would be participating for journeys wholly within the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport area.
Its spokesperson said: “For journeys that cross a scheme boundary, or travel outside a participating area, customers will pay the £2 capped fare for the eligible part of the journey and Scottish Citylink’s standard fare for the relevant section outside the scheme area.”
A spokesperson for McGill’s Buses said: “We are pleased to confirm that McGill’s will be participating in the £2 bus fare cap scheme. “Our focus is now on ensuring the scheme is introduced smoothly on Monday and works effectively for passengers on all McGill’s buses operating in the Strathclyde area."
A Transport Scotland spokesperson said: “We have engaged closely with bus operators on the £2 fare cap scheme and grant offer letters are now being issued.
“Participation in the scheme is voluntary and operators will make their own decisions on joining based on the terms offered.”
The Scottish government agency said those operators who had confirmed they would take part would be announced before Monday.
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