Bus fares to rise in West Midlands for first time in six years

The price of single fare on National Express West Midlands buses is set to rise from £2.40 to £2.70

Fares on National Express West Midlands (NXWM) buses are set to increase in the firm's first price rise in six years.

The price of a single fare will increase from £2.40 to £2.70 with an all-day ticket rising by 50p to £4.50 from 3 July.

West Midlands Mayor, Andy Street, said the changes were a "tough decision" but were to avoid bus routes being cut.

NXWM added the price rises were needed to "protect the bus network in the face of rising costs."

The bus operator serves routes across cities including Birmingham and Coventry.

The changes, announced in an update on its website, will also see the price of a weekly pass increase by £2, from £15 to £17.

"Costs including fuel, electricity, parts and labour have increased by 25% in the past three years, while the number of people using buses remains around 90% of what it was before the pandemic," the update added.

The price hike came after Mr Street previously sad in October bus fares would be frozen until 2025.

Andy Street, right, said he had agreed to fare changes to avoid bus routes being cut in the region

He told BBC WM he had agreed to the changes due to mounting costs and inflation and added he was committed to "protecting the network".

"The choice I've made is we need to do a deal with our major operator to keep the backbone of our public transport, five million journeys a week, still running," Mr Street said.

A spokesperson for NXWM added the West Midlands would still have the "cheapest all-day ticket price of any city region in England."

A national £2 bus fare cap had been introduced by the government to assist passengers with the cost of living, but NXWM said it was "reviewing" whether it would participate in the forthcoming scheme.

A Transport for West Midlands spokesperson added: "Whilst we recognise bus operators are being significantly impacted by rising costs compounding the Covid-19 pandemic related challenges, it is of course disappointing to see fares rise."

• Listen: Mayor Andy Street spoke to BBC Radio WM about the reasons behind the change in fares