Due to the ongoing fuel price rise in Estonia, from 1 July bus fares in Harju County will increase by an average of 20%, as reported by Estonian public media ERR.
North-Estonian Public Transport Centre’s managing director Andrus Niliski said this is necessary to preserve the capacity of the existing bus network and continue the development of services.
The centre is active in four counties. However, the 20% tariff increase, which is set to come to force 1 July, will only affect bus fares in Harju County. The 30-day combined fares for Tallinn and Harju County will go up as well, according to the centre.
Niliski notes the main reason for bus fares going up is the general increase of transportation costs, as well as increasing fuel prices.
«This year alone, diesel fuel prices have increased by 60%. The current tariffs have been in effect since July 1 2018 and the price of the service has increased significantly since then,» said Niliski.
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He also added that the company is working on multiple projects to provide residents with quicker, more convenient, more flexible and more unified public transport services.
Since July 2018 residents of eleven countries have been able to use buses free of charge. Four counties – Harju, Rapla, Lääne-Viru and Pärnu – did not join this system. In Harju, for example, passengers aged 20 to 62 years and parents are able to use bus services free of charge.
In Latvia, Minister of Transport Tālis Linkaits previously promised to keep public transport fares unchanged at least until the end of the year.