In 35 regions of Russia, fares have been raised or routes have been cut due to the fuel crisis.
At least 35 regions of Russia have experienced serious problems with public transportation services amid the acute fuel crisis. As a result, transport companies are being forced to either raise fares or cut their regular schedules.
Rising fares and reduction in bus routes
In particular, private and municipal carriers have already raised public transport fares in 25 regions. Furthermore, in another 10 regions of the Russian Federation, companies have sharply reduced routes or schedules, according to journalists from the publication "Important Stories." The forced price increases are explained everywhere by the ongoing fuel crisis, as well as the need to raise wages for drivers, whose shortage is acute across the country.
This problem has most significantly affected suburban and inter-municipal routes, which are operated by private companies at unregulated rates. For example, in the Irkutsk region, fares between Irkutsk and Angarsk have increased by more than 30%, to 250 rubles. In the regional capital itself, prices have increased by 20-25%.
In the Altai Krai, fuel prices rose to 90-92 rubles per liter and constant delays at gas stations have pushed the fare from Barnaul to Novoaltaisk up to 90 rubles. In Buryatia, a trip from remote villages to Ulan-Ude now costs 1700 rubles, up from 1500.
"There's still enough [diesel fuel]. It's being reserved for buses at gas stations. But you have to wait for it. This has to be done after flights, outside of working hours."
Context: transport problems from Stavropol to Kaliningrad
We've added this context to illustrate the regional geography of the transport collapse. NeMoskva previously reported that bus and minibus fares on several city routes in Stavropol have increased. Local carriers attributed this to increased prices for spare parts, gasoline, and other related expenses.
Furthermore, due to a catastrophic fuel shortage in the Kaliningrad region, some bus services on several key inter-municipal routes were cut on July 1. Consequently, the transport crisis has spread throughout the country, from the western borders to the Far East.
The growth of travel fares significantly outpaces inflation.
According to Rosstat, the average cost of a public transport ride nationwide increased by 12% over the past year, reaching 45,58 rubles. Intercity travel increased by 20%, reaching 243,89 rubles. This increase significantly exceeds the official annual inflation rate of 6%.
Since February 2022, intercity transportation in Russia has increased in price by 81%, while urban transportation has increased by 52%.
