Local bus discount in Grimsby and Cleethorpes is changing, impacting price, availability, and validity.
Last year, the local council had a cheaper fare that cost just one pound for some trips. This special price was for evenings and weekends, happening alongside a national cap.
The national bus fare cap changed January first, rising from two pounds to three pounds. The local discount is rising to match this, going from one pound to one pound fifty.
The local ticket will not work all day on weekends from February sixteenth. The £1.50 ticket works after six PM daily but before six PM, normal prices apply.
Seniors with free passes still ride free and can use their passes anytime. The reduced local fare lasts until March thirty-first, and may continue past then if funding comes from the government.
A council member said they know the price increased but the new price is still cheap. The £1.50 ticket being half the national price, he wants people to take the bus to shops because shopping local helps the town.
More people rode buses last year; passenger numbers went up by five percent. There were 5,866,685 journeys in 2023/24, compared to 5,597,608 in 2022/23.
The council pays for the discount with government money, having gotten £3.83 million this year and set to get £3.73 million next year. This money helps improve bus service.