Changes are on the horizon for bus travel in the West Midlands, as National Express announces an increase in adult single fares. We'll take a closer look at what this means for passengers and how the region is responding to the rising cost of public transport.
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00:00National Express West Midlands has announced that adult single bus fares will rise from £2 to £2.90
00:06starting from the 5th of January. The increase comes ahead of the government's national fare cap
00:11rising from £2 to £3 in the new year. The company stated that all other tickets and passes
00:17will remain unchanged. The West Midlands Mayor has highlighted his ambition to introduce a
00:22franchised bus network, similar to Greater Manchester's, where single fares remain capped
00:28at £2. The move is aimed at giving local authorities greater control over pricing and
00:33services. Meanwhile the company continues to offer £1.50 fares for concessionary pass holders before
00:399.30am and customers travelling on the network before January 5th will still pay £2 per single
00:46journey. The rising fares have sparked calls for more affordable travel options with public
00:52consultations on bus franchising expected to take place in the coming months.