Dublin Bus commuters hit with 13pc hike
COMMUTERS who use pre-paid tickets to get around the capital will be hit with price hikes of up to 13pc later this month.
The National Transport Authority yesterday approved an application from Dublin Bus to increase prices on its range of pre-paid tickets by an average of 5.6pc.
These price rises, which come into effect from February 19, are part of fare increases across all Iarnrod Eireann, Dublin Bus, Bus Eireann and Luas services approved last month.
The increases ranged from 3pc to 15pc, with commuters in the capital hardest hit.
From February 19, pre-paid tickets will increase by an average of more than 4pc.
The biggest hike will be on the 'Travel 90' or 10-journey adult travel card, which will increase by 13.2pc -- jumping from €19 to €21.50.
A 30-day Rambler student card will increase by 4.9pc from €82 to €86.
Dublin Bus cash fares rose by an average of 15pc on January 4 2012, with a single adult ticket increasing from €1.20 to €1.40.
The increase has added 40c to travel costs a day, or €2 a week.
This is the third fare increase in the past three years and comes as most public transport companies continue to lose customers in the downturn.
The reason given for the increases is a combination of higher fuel costs, falling passenger numbers, and a €21m cut in the subsidy paid to the CIE companies of Bus Eireann, Dublin Bus and Iarnrod Eireann.
Dublin Bus said the increases in pre-paid tickets were necessary to "align the pricing structure" between discounted tickets and standard cash fares.
- Edel O'Connell
Irish Independent
