Tuesday 26 September 2023
The Committee for the Environment & Infrastructure has agreed to maintain the current free bus journeys for pensioners before 9.30am. However, it will proceed with other proposed increases in fares from the 1st October, in order to offset the increased costs driven by inflation (the full list of new bus fares and product prices is included below).
These small fare increases will together generate a significant amount, around £250,000 per year, which otherwise would need to be funded by taxpayers which the Committee does not believe would be appropriate given the pressure on public finances and the need to reduce expenditure as much as possible. Even with the increase, bus fares remain affordable and good value.
In consulting with the community on the changes, the Committee received 39 formal submissions on the proposal to remove free bus journeys before 9.30am for people aged 65 and over. Most of these were opposed to the change and the Committee has reviewed their feedback.
Unlike the fare increases, this measure was not driven by the need to increase revenue to help to cover rising costs: it was a proposal to help protect capacity on the buses at peak school and commuter times as passenger numbers continue to increase. While capacity during peak times is likely to become more of an issue in future if the current ridership patterns continue, the Committee was persuaded by the responses to the consultation that it is not yet at a problematic level on most morning services, and so has agreed not to proceed with this change at this stage.
The Committee has however agreed that the bus fare concessions should be linked to pension age, which is set to gradually rise over the coming years, and this change will come in on 1st January 2024.
Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez, President of the Committee for the Environment & Infrastructure said
"We've taken on board the views of those who responded to our consultation, and I'd like to thank them for their detailed feedback. I'm reassured by the strength of feeling people have for our bus services, and by the growing numbers of passengers. More and more people are finding it's a good, affordable and practical option. We may still need to find ways of managing pressure on services at peak times in future as the bus passenger numbers continue to rise, but we're not at that stage just yet. Therefore, I'm pleased that we can continue to provide this free service for pensioners."
Bus fares and product prices from 1 October 2023
Fares / products | Cost | Details |
Standard daytime journey | £1.50 | Credit or debit card only. |
Pay-as-you-go 'puffinpass' | £1.00 | Initial card cost of £4.00. |
Night bus services | £5.00 | For travel on the N1, N2, N3 and N4 services. |
Under 5s | Free | Must be accompanied by a responsible adult. |
Students | Free | Unlimited travel on daytime services for residents in full time education with a student puffinpass. Please visit the Town Terminus Shop to apply. |
Concessions | Free | Unlimited travel on daytime services for residents aged 65 and over. Must be the holder of a 'concession' card Please visit the Town Terminus Shop to apply. |
Unlimited weekly pass | £25.00 | Initial card cost of £4.00. Unlimited travel on daytime services. |
Unlimited monthly pass | Withdrawn | Holders of an existing unlimited monthly pass can surrender their card for a free PAYG 'puffinpass' until 31st December 2023. |
"Around Island" 1-day visitor pass | £10.00 | Unlimited travel on daytime services. |
2-day visitor pass | £11.00 | Unlimited travel on daytime services. |
1-day family pass | £13.00 | Unlimited travel on daytime services. Travel for two adults and up to three children (up the age of 16) travelling together. |
2-day family pass | £21.00 | Unlimited travel on daytime services. Travel for two adults and up to three children (up the age of 16) travelling together. |
7-day family pass | £50.00 | Unlimited travel on daytime services. Travel for two adults and up to three children (up the age of 16) travelling together. |
Further information and details on applying for products can be found at buses.gg.
Increases/Changes from 1 October 2023 are shown in bold.
