Ms Glen told the Tele, “They will hit those on lowest incomes the hardest and they will contribute to the continuing long-term drop in the numbers of those who use buses for transport.”

She says she plans to raise the increases with Scottish Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, the decision by National Express to hike bus fares has been labelled “disappointing” by Dundee City Council’s planning and transport convener Will Dawson.

Speaking to the Tele, he said, however, he understood the travel company was faced with a Catch 22 situation and forced to raise fares to cover increasing costs of operating buses.

He said, “Fuel costs are extremely high. I think one bus gets 13 miles to the gallon, which isn’t very much. It costs National Express a lot of money to keep emission levels low and new buses cost more to run for that reason.”

He added that the council was still focused on getting more people to switch cars for public transport.

An event has been arranged for January at the city square with TACTRAN, Stagecoach and National Express to make commuters aware of cost-saving measures.

Councillor Dawson said, “The strange thing is that regular users of buses in Dundee are not purchasing monthly and yearly passes which would save them a considerable amount of money.

“In England these options are very popular and we are hoping the event in January will let people know there is a cheaper way to travel. Sadly, it is the shorter traveller who will be hit the hardest, but they have to raise funds somewhere.”

Councillor Dawson explained he hoped only a small number of passengers would be affected by the rise. He added, “The one thing we have to keep in mind is that the base fare has risen and not many people choose to pay to travel such a small distance.

“The elderly who may not be able to walk far already receive financial help, but it is unfortunate that some people with disabilities may be affected and also that children’s fares are set to increase.”

Travel Dundee director Lawrence Davie says the fare changes will allow the company to continue investing in the bus service in the city.

PRICES BREAKDOWN

A breakdown of the new National Express bus fares in Dundee has revealed the winners and losers in the shake-up (writes Maura Bowman.)

The Tele asked Travel Dundee to provide an across-the-board average of the price rises. The company was unable to confirm the figure by the time of going to Press, but we have calculated the changes will amount to an average rise of around 9%.

Hardest hit will be travellers on the shortest journeys as the current three-fare stage system will be changed to just two fare stages from January 4, when the new fees are introduced.

As a result, the current lowest adult single fare will rise by 50%, from 80p to £1.20, though other adult single fares remain unchanged.

All child single fares will rise, with, again, the steepest increase on the lowest 47p fare, which will rise to 65p. The 62p fare goes up to 65p and the 72p to 85p. Flexi 10 journey tickets will go up from £11 to £12 for adults and from £5.70 to £6.50 for children, and flexi value tickets will be withdrawn altogether due to what the company describes as, “a decline in their use”.

Daysaver 5 and adult and child Daysaver tickets are unchanged, though the Evening Saver fare rises by 10% to £2.20.

Adult one-week travelcards go up from £9.50 to £10, and four-week cards from £36 to £37. However, the charge for 52-week cards will fall from £415 to £399 and travellers paying by monthly direct debit will see no change.

For children, one-week travelcards will go up from £5.70 to £6.20 and four-week cards from £18.70 to £20.50.

The monthly direct debit cost for children will rise from £16.50 to £18 and student term tickets will go up from £69 to £74.