LEICESTER City Council has worked with bus operators to cut the price of Flexi bus tickets, making them the cheapest way to travel around Leicester for virtually all journeys.
Flexi tickets can be used on all bus operators across the Leicester Buses network. Their price is commercially set by the bus operators.
The city council is using Government bus grant funding of around £600,000 a year to reduce the price of the whole range of Flexi tickets, with some cut by up to 20%.
The cheaper Flexi tickets will now be the only range of tickets sold on all regular bus services across the Greater Leicester area for day and period travel. Short-hop single tickets will also remain available. Student flexi prices will be reviewed for September.
Cllr Geoff Whittle, asst city mayor for transport said: “We’re pleased to support the bus companies in reducing the price of these tickets and simplifying their offer. This will open-up the whole Leicester Buses network to everyone - improving choice and frequency for no extra cost.”
In support of this move to simpler travel, all operators will remove from sale their matching range of adult and child tickets which are priced the same as Flexi.
Ste Brito-Coll, Head of Commercial at First Bus, said: “We’re pleased to play our part in this move to simpler journeys. Our drivers have all the information on the ticket change and prices and will be happy to help customers to make sure they make the right choice when boarding.”
Toby France, Head of Commercial, Midlands, at Arriva said: “We’re delighted to be working with the city council and other bus operators through the Leicester Buses Partnership in moving to one simple ticket range across all buses in the city. This initiative will help make our buses in Leicester even easier to use while continuing to offer great value, and we look forward to welcoming customers onboard.”
David Brookes, Centrebus Managing Director said: “This is a very positive step forward for the Leicester Buses Partnership, and we fully support its ambition to remove barriers to travel. A simpler, clearer ticket range and the ability for passengers to use any operator’s bus across the city - without the price premium that previously applied - will make the network more accessible, more convenient, and easier for people to choose bus travel.”
The new adult day and weekly prices will also be the reduced fare caps for those using tap-on, tap-off contactless capping.
This is all part of the Leicester Buses Partnership’s aim to make bus travel electric, frequent, reliable and great value.
More information, including details of future projects and plans can be found at www.leicesterbuses.co.uk