(31 Aug 2025, 9:06 pm)Superman wrote Second fare hike in less than 6 months......
Given the first (ignoring the 1st Jan single fare charges) lift earlier this year was massively over inflation already (around 10% in a number of products), this further hit to the customer suggests that the business is really not doing well, from a financial point of view.
Whilst huge investment is being seen in the region (that for the sake of argument will all be capitalised so won't hit the P&L all at once + any depreciation increase from new vehicles is likely offset by direct cost decrease in fuel and engineering heads), it does add fuel to the fire.
If this second round of fare hikes don't work, expect network cuts early 2026 is my take on things. Certainly doesn't shout confidence.
https://www.stagecoachbus.com/service-up...:50:35:970
https://www.stagecoachbus.com/service-up...:11:25:838
I do think Stagecoach selling Hartlepool and South Shields would be the best idea going forward. While I can’t comment much on South Shields it’s quite clear they don’t care much about Hartlepool which is very much run on the bare minimum and has no thought at all other than been used as a scrapyard for withdrawn buses and to send buses from elsewhere that the majority of time are already knackered.
They is nothing really left to cut on the town network as it’s already bad enough as it is with buses constantly late and breaking down. The fare increases are a joke as well as many people are struggling financially as it is so this could see them struggle more. I do wonder if an independent would do a better job, certainly Stagecoach having a monopoly in the majority of the places they operate is not proving to be good for passengers.