Stagecoach Slammed for Forcing Over-60s to Pay Additional Fares for Babies and Toddlers

Local bus users are up in arms over rules introduced by Stagecoach which see pensioners looking after young children charged for toddlers' journeys, while under-fives accompanied by other bus users travel free.

Stagecoach has issued directives to its drivers in the Bedford area that fares must be paid for all young children who are accompanied by holders of the concessionary bus pass for the over-60s. Stagecoach levies this additional charge against elderly people caring for children despite receiving funding from the taxpayer for journeys made using the free pass.

Liberal Democrat Councillor for Kingsbrook Shirley McKay discovered Stagecoach's new policy when she fell foul of it herself when travelling with her grandson. Commenting on the issue, Cllr McKay said: "Bus companies are paid for journeys made with concessionary passes by the taxpayer via the council, so for Stagecoach to punish pensioners with babies and toddlers in their care for using the pass is absolutely outrageous. Accompanied under-fives go free with other bus users, so it appears that Stagecoach is simply trying to boost its profits via unethical additional charges."

"Stagecoach obviously needs reminding about the point of the free bus pass. It is to ensure elderly and disabled people have a means of travelling around in the local area, not to allow greedy bus companies to top up their profits with additional fares for pass holders looking after babies and toddlers."

Bedford Borough Council's current agreement with Stagecoach for the cost of journeys in Bedford Borough made using the concessionary bus pass is worth £1.8 million. Last week Stagecoach PLC announced a profit of £105 million for the first half of the current financial year to October, an increase of 25% on last year.

Previously, all accompanied children under 5 years of age travelled free on buses in the Bedford area, but Stagecoach has introduced a range of restrictions to this policy. In addition to the fares for toddlers accompanied by concessionary pass holders, the restrictions also include a limit on the number of under-fives who can travel for free when accompanied by other bus users to two.