Ambi Ambituuni, a concerned parent and resident of Rugby, is shocked by an 80% fare hike. This increase impacts one of KC Metro’s busiest school routes, connecting three local high schools. Starting January 1, the route—which National Express operates at present—will switch to new operator, Stagecoach. Ambituuni learned of this switch during an informal chat amongst parents in a WhatsApp group. This discovery inspired him to investigate its economic effects on his family.
Yet under the new fare structure, this happens—an eye-popping 45% increase in costs. For the next school term, Ambituuni’s daughter will now be using the 85 bus route between Coventry and Rugby. Her overall cost will be £302.40. This is an enormous increase from the current term-long price of £165. Most striking, the monthly fare will be £75.60 under Stagecoach.
Ambi Ambituuni expressed his frustrations in how this hike would impact families who are already dealing with the current cost of living crisis. He continued on to say that most parents will be the ones being pinched when the fare hikes go into effect in January.
“It is a substantial amount, especially given the cost of living pressure right now on parents and on guardians and I know it will be an issue many will be facing come January 2026,” – Ambi Ambituuni
Ambituuni feels the authorities should reconsider the fare structure. He’s just arguing for smarter, fairer rates that reflect the real economic times we’re living in.
“I think they need to look at the pricing again,” – Ambi Ambituuni
Ambituuni therefore called on Warwickshire County Council to act. They need to put the pressure on Stagecoach to ensure fare increases aren’t hitting families hardest, whose lives revolve around this vital bus service.
“I think that they should offer prices that are comparable. I think that Warwickshire County Council needs to put pressure on the operator given that they are the ones that offered the contract to the operator,” – Ambi Ambituuni
This shift to Stagecoach brings up important issues regarding how local authorities are awarding public transport contracts and the negative effects this all has on families. With the date approaching, parents including Ambi Ambituuni are hit with increasing expenses. These costs can have a profound effect on their livelihood and quality of life.
