Update: Bluestar also made a similar announcement yesterday. Its on the ‘news’ page but not on the homepage of the website or social media. That is why I missed it on first glance. Thanks to Clive for the heads up.
We all know that costs have increased recently. The cost of electric, the cost of food and the cost of fuel. Southern Vectis have announced that they will be increasing the cost of fares from Monday 31st October, but that was not all the announcement held.
Fares Up
So, the headline fares news is that the £10 Day Rover ticket (which is a true Day Rover – lasting 24 hours) will not increase. I find it reasonable value on an island where most things are slightly more expensive than the mainland.
Adult Single tickets will increase by up to 30p (there are no return tickets on the Island) – child single tickets will also increase on their single hop fares.
Adult day ticket packs on the app increase by £2 as are weekly freedom tickets. Three month (90 day) tickets increase by £16 on the app or £25 on theKey.
TheKey is being locked though
Inside the announcement about fares, Southern Vectis have also announced that the smart card system is slowly being wound down. They cite issues with development costs and reliability.
It was not surprising, at least in my mind, to read that though. The cost of using theKey in some parts had been undercut by app prices. I am sure that somewhere back in the blogs past I predicted theKey was being phased out. It might of course have been that I was referring to another of the big groups offerings.
So as a starter for 10, the 7 day freedom tickets will no longer be available on smart cards from Monday 31st October. By the start of the next Summer season, theKey will be taken out of the lock, and I will admit there will be no more analogies on the matter.
I don’t recall any of the other local GoAhead Group brands announcing similar, nor train services operated by Govia Thameslink Railway. Maybe, this is the first axe of the new GoAhead era of ownership – now owned by the Aussies – or maybe its just Souther Vectis getting fed up of it all.
Bluestar have also announced fare changes from monday with their key card being wound down.Ironically Southern rail keep promoting a smartcard on social media.
Thanks Clive.
I looked at Twitter and the Bluestar home page and did not see reference to it, but have now found it tucked in on the News section.
Surprised it was not promoted to the front and center of the home page as well!