Brummies set to pay more than other big cities for bus travel

Brum looks set to face a price hike of 90p for a single use bus ticket from 1 January onwards as the price rises to £2.90 per journey.

NX Customer Services confirmed in a telephone call on 19 November that staff had received an email stating the price rise from 1 January 2025 but they were unable to provide written confirmation of the increase. Assurance was given that the price was “among the cheapest in the country.” 

Yet single bus fares in London with Transport for London look set to remain at £1.75 and those in Greater Manchester at £2 from January 2025 onwards.

Liberal Democrat Leader for Birmingham Cllr Roger Harmer said:

“Yet again, Birmingham residents are getting the rough end of the stick under a Labour Government and a Labour controlled council. 

“Nationally Labour have brought us the winter fuel payment cancellation and they have maintained the 2-child benefit cap.

“Locally they have brought financial mismanagement on an unprecedented scale with reduced services and council tax up by 21% over 2 years. 

“Now, people are anticipating a significant increase to bus fares. Bus use in this region is already in decline. This increase in bus charges will further discourage people from taking the bus which could lead to our roads becoming even more congested.” 

We asked the WMCA for comment and were referred to a Birmingham Live article where the WMCA Mayor Richard Parker was quoted "While the decision is disappointing, I understand the financial pressures currently facing our country.…. For now, we are working closely with the operators to ensure that single fares remain below £3.”