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Bus passengers face a “toxic mix” of rising fares and cuts to services, Labour warns.

The latest official figures show the number of local bus passenger journeys in England was 4.3bn in the year ending in September - a 2.1% decrease compared to the previous year.

And in the same period local fares increased by 3.7% - faster than the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) rate of inflation of 2.4%.

The Department for Transport (DfT) statistics show that bus use in England, outside London, declined by 2.9% and is now 13% lower than the peak in the year ending December 2008.

(Image: Evening Gazette)

Andy McDonald, Labour’s Shadow Transport Secretary, said:”Our buses are in crisis, with passengers now facing a toxic mix of above inflation fares rises, cuts to services and reduced access. At the same time bus company profits have gone up by 5.6% year on year.

“With bus use down 2% over the last 12 months and, outside London, down 13% on the decade, it’s clear that the Conservatives simply don’t get the economic and social importance of good bus services.

“Nearly two thirds of all journeys by public transport are taken by bus and these services are vital connections for many people and communities.

“That’s why Labour will provide powers for local authorities to regulate and own their buses so public money is used to improve services rather than filling the pockets of private shareholders.

“In addition our commitment to free bus travel for under 25s will help generate lifelong increases in public transport use.”

And Cat Hobbs, of the anti-privatisation group We Own It, said:“The buses so many of us rely on are being decimated by deregulation, privatisation and cuts.

“Now the statistics are sadly showing what passengers already know: we’re handing over ever more cash for a worse deal. Bus passengers suffer, while private shareholders rake in millions.

“It doesn’t have to be this way. Every village, town and city deserves a great bus service to connect people, support the local economy and provide a green alternative to driving.

“With proper funding and public ownership we could easily turn things around. It’s time to run our buses for people not profit.”

Last month the Mirror revealed that the big five bus companies paid a staggering £1.5bn in dividends to shareholders over the last ten years while fares have soared and services have been axed.

Research by Better Buses for Greater Manchester showed that the big five operators have received a £149m a year in dividends on average, while bus use fell to a 12 year low everywhere except London and fares have risen by 55% in a decade.

The big five are the five largest bus companies; Arriva, FirstGroup, Go-Ahead, NationalExpress and Stagecoach, carry 70% of all passengers in the UK.

A Department for Transort spokesman said:” We provide around £250 million every year to support bus services and a further £1 billion to support older and disabled people using the free bus pass scheme.”

He said the government had given local councils extra powers to work in partnership with bus companies to improve the services passengers “expect and deserve.”