Bury Council welcomes reductions in First Bus fares

Bury Council, following a concerted campaign, has welcomed the news that First bus fares have come down by as much as 28%.

From Monday 8 April the following fares now apply on all First buses in Greater Manchester:

·  Manchester FirstDay reduced to £4 (from £4.50) - a saving of 50p (11%)

·  Manchester FirstWeek reduced to £13 (from £18) - a saving of £5 (28%)

·  Child Weekly Ticket reduced to £6.50 (from £7) – a saving of 50p (7%)

·  Manchester FirstMonth reduced to £48 (from £58) – a £10 saving

The changes follow a strategic review by First that places passenger growth in Bury, and Greater Manchester as a whole, firmly at the top of the agenda, and come on the back of successful fares reduction initiatives already seen elsewhere in Greater Manchester

Councillor Joan Grimshaw, who attended a photocall at First’s bus depot in Rochdale Road, Bury to promote the new fares, said: “Bus users in Bury will benefit from these new cheaper fares, particularly at a time of increasing costs in areas such as fuel and household bills.

“I have long been championing the reduction of bus fares Bury and I welcome this move by First. Cheaper bus fares will benefit thousands of people who rely on the bus for their means of daily travel.”

Councillor Mike Connolly, Leader of Bury Council, said: “This is fantastic news for Bury as many people rely on buses to get around the borough and in the current economic climate a reduction in fares will make a real difference to people’s day to day lives”.

ENDS

Note to News Editors: For further information from FIRST please contact Duncan McGraw, First UK Bus PR Manager, on 07889 095726.

For further council information please contact Peter Doherty or Katy Quinn in the council press office on 0161 253 6096 or 5007. Alternatively please email communications@bury.gov.uk

Picture attached: Bury Council champion Cllr Joan Grimshaw celebrates the reduction in First Bus Fares