Some passengers using bus services between Lancaster, Settle and Skipton will see an increase in their fares from 1st September. Here’s why.
Complicated.
The cross-country bus service between Lancaster and Skipton, run by Lonsdale Buses, is operated in a curious way. Legally, it is three separate services: Lancaster-Kirkby Lonsdale / Kirkby Lonsdale – Settle / and Settle – Skipton, with each section having a different service number, either 81/82, 581 or 580. One reason for this is that by keeping the services separate in this way they can be operated under the less-restrictive rules on the hours that bus drivers can work that apply to bus routes less than 50km in length. It also means that the buses themselves do not need to be fitted with tachographs. This is a common practice throughout the country with longer bus routes, although in most cases the same service number is used on each section.
The financial arrangements are complicated too. Lancashire County Council provides support for the 81/82 north of Hornby, the Kirkby Lonsdale – Settle service is supported by North Yorkshire Council, whilst the remaining sections are run commercially by the bus company.
Through Fares
Despite these complications, the buses have continued to run a through service between Lancaster and Skipton and to all intents and purposes it has been regarded as a through route. Lancashire’s timetable and the Dales Bus website market the route as the “Craven Connection” and at one time this branding was carried by at least one bus used on the service.
Fares
From its inception as a through service there were through fares. In 2018, for example, a single ticket from Lancaster to Skipton cost £9.90, with a return just 10p more at £10. However, in recognition of the fact that it is legally three separate routes, holders of concessionary bus passes were required to re-present their cards to the driver at Kirkby Lonsdale and Settle on every journey.
When the government’s English National Fares Cap was introduced in January 2023 it reduced the fare to £2, which was increased to £3 in January this year. A journey from Lancaster to Skipton then cost just 30% of what it did in 2018.
Everyone to re-book
The £3 fare cap means that bus companies cannot increase most of their fares to meet rising costs and must rely on compensation payments from the government for participating in what is a voluntary scheme.
Lonsdale Buses has now decided that the economics of operating these services means it must now treat them as separate as far as the fares cap is concerned, just as it does with concessionary passes. From 1st September, passengers making through journeys will have to re-book at Kirkby Lonsdale and/or Settle and pay a maximum of £3 each time. A journey from Lancaster to Settle will cost a total of £6 and to Skipton £9.
In a statement on it’s website the company explained that it is developing a “Day Saver” ticket that will reduce the cost for passengers making longer journeys, although it is unclear whether this will be launched before the changes take effect.
