School bus fares rise by 10p a journey

The 25% price increase means students will have to pay 50p

School bus fares on the Isle of Man have risen by 10p, the Department of Infrastructure has confirmed.

The hike means students travelling to school or college using pre-paid Go School smart travel cards will have to pay 50p - a rise of 25%.

The department said the change would address "operational pressures for running the heavily-subsidised schools service" and was part of a wider review of all bus fares.

Minister Tim Crookall said the island had faced a "period of significant economic challenges and high inflation" since the last increase in 2019.

Travel on school buses was free for students on the island until 2015, when a 25p charge was introduced.

Fares then rose to 30p in January 2018 and 40p the following year.

'Practical step'

Mr Crookall said "school fares have not changed for some time" and with the "department’s budget under increasing pressure" it was "important to alleviate some of the subsidy currently borne by taxpayers".

"The adjustment is therefore a practical step to support the financial sustainability of our transport network," he said.

The new cost comes into effect immediately.