LT's final phase gets under way: fares up
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THE FINAL stage of London Transport's plan to improve its bus route network goes into effect on March 31.
Routes all over Greater London have been adjusted so that schedules relate more closely to passenger demand and staff availability.
On some routes LT is reducing the scheduled number of buses but it intends that the actual number of vehicles should be no fewer than running today.
LT's managing director (buses) Dr David Quarmby said that LT still has to overcome the continuing problems of mechanical unreliability of many of its "present generation" buses and needs to complete the recruitment of additional staff before the full benefits of the changes can be realized.
Although staff recruitment remains difficult, intensive campaigns are beginning to make headway, he said.
LT's engineers are also making every effort to increase the number of buses available for service and to overcome the backlog of maintenance and accident repair work caused by the recent exceptionally bad road conditions.
LT has also recently submitted proposals to the Greater London Council for bus and tube fare increases. If the proposals are agreed, adult bus fares will increase by about five per cent. It also proposes to re-introduce a lower off-peak maximum fare for bus passengers on Mondays to Fridays. London buspass fares will also be increased by just under eight per cent.
The fare increase proposals are the lowest since the LT fare freeze of 1973-74.