Western Isles bus fares have risen by 10% because of the soaring cost of fuel.
The higher price of public transport travel comes days before the senior boss at
much-
Sam Chambers will attend the showdown next Friday in Stornoway in response to public outrage that it costs islanders around £1 a gallon extra to buy fuel in the Hebrides compared to the mainland.
It can cost operators up to nearly £400 day in fuel to run a service bus.
Island bus travel is now about 32% more expensive than three years ago.
Some passengers forked out an even higher percentage rise because fares are rounded up to the nearest five pence each time.
Western Isles Council has sanctioned the fares increase for subsidised services which
would take in an extra £21,000 for the council’s own in-
Private operators which receive a subsidy from the authority would keep the additional fares in compensation for the cut in margins they face after successive hikes on fuel costs on top of other rising costs.
High fuel prices result in dearer bus fares 3/10/11