Parents in England are pushing back after Central Connect increased the cost of a weekly bus pass on the 853 route by £9 ($11.89), even as some students reportedly end up standing because the bus is full, according to EDP24.
A local councillor argues the arrangement lets the operator charge higher fares because the route is treated as a commercial service rather than a dedicated school bus.
Here's what to know
Antony Little — the Conservative county councillor for Old Catton and principal of the Hewett Academy — wants Central Connect to redesignate the 853 as a school bus route.
The 853 serves Broadland High Academy near Wroxham and also takes in Old Catton, Spixworth, and Frettenham, carrying both students and other passengers.
Little said Central Connect's decision to run the 853 as a commercial service has pushed the weekly student pass up by £9 ($11.89) to £28 ($37).
Switching it to a school bus designation would mean only students could use it, fares would be capped, and children would not be left standing, Little noted.
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"On the 853 members of the public are allowed on, the price has gone up for parents, and some children don't even get a seat if the bus is full," he explained.
"I am not suggesting the company is doing anything illegal, but there's a massive loophole here," Little added, describing the current arrangement as "ripping off" hundreds of parents who rely on the route to get their children to school.
More background
Little said the issue is particularly frustrating for families because, although the 853 is technically open to the public, it is often so full of students that few local residents use it.
"Not many members of the public even use the service because it's usually full of school children," he told the outlet.
What's being done?
Little wants the 853 to be clearly defined as one type of service or the other.
In his view, Central Connect should stop combining a school run with a public route while still charging fares under commercial rules.
Central Connect, however, claimed the fare increase is needed to keep the route running.
"The changes to fares were part of a package of measures put in place specifically to keep it running," a company spokesperson asserted.
The spokesperson also threatened to cancel the service entirely if passengers stop using it.
"If passengers are led to believe the service is too expensive and choose not to use it, the route will most likely be withdrawn," the spokesperson added.
Central Connect maintained that it welcomes direct talks with Little about the route's future and defended what it called "a reasonable fare to cover the cost of a service it is choosing to provide."
Where can I learn more?
School transport decisions can affect families, budgets, and fleets more broadly. These stories look at debates over electric school buses, operating costs, and school drop-off planning.
• Across the U.S., orders for electric buses have risen tenfold since early last year.
• For school districts, electric bus savings can reach as much as $173,000.
• At one elementary school, a parking lot expansion sparked debate over whether buses were being overlooked.
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