BOROUGH bus operator Ensignbus has announced changes to some of its fares from Saturday, 20 April.

The Purfleet-based company says changes to some of the single and return fares are designed to make them easier to understand, as well as adjusting the prices of tickets for a day or longer.

Single tickets for adults and children:

• All tickets currently under £1.50 will be charged at £1.50
• All tickets currently £1.50 or more, will be charged at £2.00

Return tickets (come back the same day) for adults:

• Currently £2.80 or less will be charged at £3.00
• Currently £3.00 or more will be charged at £4.00

Return tickets (come back the same day) for children:

• Currently £1.80 or less will be charged at £2.00
• Currently £1.90 or more will be charged at £3.00

New fares for a day or more (but easiest to purchase on the First Bus app):

• 1 day: Adult £5.50 and Child £4.00
• 7 days (mTicket only): Adult £20.00 and Child £16.00
• 28 days (mTicket only) Adult £70.00 and Child £50.00

Student season tickets:

• Student-USP (Palmers) College and South Essex College: 7 days £18.00 and 28 days £60.00
• Student-Other for 6th form or other college (not USP/SEC): 7 days £18.00 and 28 days £60.00

Garry Nicholass, Director & General Manager at Ensignbus, said: "It's two years since we last reviewed our fares, and in that time the costs of running the network have increased significantly. This means that we are having to increase our fares to enable continued investment in improving services for our customers.

"We have taken this opportunity to simplify our fares, and customers are still able to take advantage of the £2 Government's single fare cap scheme.

"We have also found new ways of offering fantastic value for our customers, for example the Student-Other season ticket can now be used at any time and on any day, when formally it was restricted to use Monday to Friday, 0700-1900. 

"We believe our fares represent good value for travelling sustainably at a time when fuel costs and the general cost of living remain high."