Despite a significant surge in passenger numbers, bus fares in Taunton are set to increase from June 1. Somerset Council, which currently subsidizes bus tickets in Taunton using funds from the Department for Transport (DfT), aims to sustain the viability of bus services following the rise in ridership.
The introduction of the £1 single fare for the Taunton Town Zone in late-2022 saw a nearly 30 per cent increase in passenger numbers. However, to ensure the financial sustainability of the service, the council has announced an increase in single ticket prices starting June 1. It is important to note that the park and ride system will not be affected by the fare adjustments.
The decision to raise fares was made during a virtual meeting of the council’s bus advisory board and will see the cost of an adult single ticket within the Taunton fare zone rise from £1 to £1.50, with a child ticket priced at 80p. These rates will undergo a review before Christmas.
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Notably, passengers utilizing the Gateway or Silk Mills park and ride sites to access the town center or Musgrove Park Hospital will continue to pay only £1 for a single fare. Additionally, the £2 single fare cap for all bus services across Somerset will remain in place until December, supported by central government funding.
Councillor Richard Wilkins, portfolio holder for transport and digital, emphasized the council’s efforts to utilize ring-fenced funding from the government’s bus service improvement plan (BSIP) grant to subsidize capped fares. He also highlighted that despite the financial challenges and the need to support other bus services, Taunton will still benefit from significantly capped fares.
Wilkins further stated, “The new fare is still less than half the cost of a single journey five years ago.” The Somerset BSIP aims to collaborate with operators to ensure reliable and affordable bus services, making bus travel more appealing to the public.
In 2021, the council received nearly £13m from the DfT as part of the government’s ‘bus back better’ initiative, aimed at revitalizing the use of public transport following the pandemic. In addition to fare capping, these funds have been instrumental in safeguarding threatened services such as the 25 (Dulverton to Taunton via Wiveliscombe) and the 54 (Yeovil to Taunton via Ilchester, Somerton, and Langport).