Father slams Stagecoach over 'extremely unfair' Lancaster school bus charges

Parents of children living in Garstang and travelling in to schools in Lancaster are paying the same amount as those travelling from Preston.

Rob Tomkins, a dad-of-three living in Garstang, said his son is starting secondary school at Ripley St Thomas Academy next week.

He said that Stagecoach charged for his older two children based on the bus stop they travel from, but changes this term mean that there are now only two choices available - Lancaster to Galgate and Lancaster to Preston.

Mr Tomkins said that this has increased his son's annual bus pass payment by 10 per cent to £956, which he has paid up front.

Stagecoach said that as a result of the ongoing pandemic and in the interests of safety it has "zoned" its school tickets in line with its other products including day tickets, resulting in some parents facing a slight increase or decrease in ticket price from last year.

But Mr Tomkins said that this doesn't make any sense.

"Garstang is virtually in the middle of Lancaster and Preston, but nearer to Lancaster," he said.

"Why would we want a travel pass all the way to Preston when we live in Garstang?

"To be charged the same price is completely ridiculous."

He has written to Stagecoach asking for clarity on why he is paying the same amount as those travelling from Preston.

He asked: "Do you charge the same price for someone getting a day ticket from Preston to Lancaster as someone getting on at Garstang?

"The answer is clearly no.

"To Preston is another half an hour on the bus from Garstang."

He has asked for a review of the charging system, saying he feels "unduly punished and overcharged for a travel pass we do not need."

He added: "There should be a clearer and fairer price system for school kids, dependant on distance like you charge every other one of your customers.

"You are unfairly targeting school kids who have no choice.

"To charge over £950 is unbelievable.

"I have spoken to numerous other parents who are of the same belief that your current system is extremely unfair."

A spokesperson for Stagecoach said: "As a result of the ongoing pandemic and in the interests of safety, we've taken the decision to move the sale of school bus passes online for the new academic year. The move from paper to smart tickets allows us to offer a simple and contact free solution for parents and their children.

"For this simple process to work, we've had to zone our school tickets in line with all of our other products including our day tickets, resulting in some parents facing a slight increase or decrease in ticket price from last year.

"School tickets are available to purchase as 28 day, termly or annual passes to help parents' budget accordingly for travel needs."

A new charging system for children travelling from Lancaster to QES in Kirkby Lonsdale means that parents now have to pay termly, rather than monthly, increasing the amount having to be paid in one go.

Meanwhile, extra school buses will be running on some of Lancashire’s busiest pupil routes when children return to the classroom next week – in an attempt to allow social distancing on board.

Lancashire County Council says that it plans to commission “duplicate” vehicles to increase capacity in some areas where existing dedicated services for schools and colleges are known to be particularly busy.

However, the authority accepts that the social distancing guidance which applies on public transport will not always be able to be guaranteed on school-only buses – after the government said that it will not be made mandatory.

Around 7,500 children are transported on Lancashire’s dedicated school buses every day.