From the beginning of May, riding the bus in the Lappeenranta urban area will be less expensive and more flexible

From the beginning of May, riding the bus in the Lappeenranta urban area will be less expensive and more flexible. The price of a single ticket will be reduced to € 3.00 for adults and € 1.50 for children. Single tickets and multi-tickets include the right to transfer to another bus within one hour from the start of the trip. Both students and older people are granted discounts for the multi-tickets.

The City of Lappeenranta’s Traffic Engineer Birgitta Nakari says that the reform is aimed at promoting the use of public transport and encouraging people to travel outside of peak hours.

– We aim to strengthen the Green Lappeenranta brand and make travelling more convenient for customers. The changes have been made on the basis of customer feedback. Over three previous years, we have collected feedback from our customers through an online survey in the autumn, and we will be conducting the survey again this November, Nakari promises.

The city of Lappeenranta can now influence the ticket products and their prices without restrictions and regulations, because the responsibility for the organisation of local public transport has been transferred to the city. Based on a contract awarded through a competitive tendering procedure, the transport services will be procured from Autolinjat Oy.

Starting on 1 May 2014, the local bus fares in Lappeenranta were reduced, as were the multi-tickets that were renewed for the low-floor buses running on the routes for buses number 1, 2, 3, 3K, 4, 5, 9 and 10 within the urban area.

According to Birgitta Nakari, one of the key new ticket products is the single ticket, the price of which will be reduced to € 3.00 (was € 3.30–3.60) and to € 1.50 (was € 1.70–1.80) for children under 12 years of age.

Bus travel is made simpler through the one-hour transfer right included in the single fare. There are no transfer tickets anymore; the same ticket can be used to transfer from one bus to another at any place and any time within the operating area of the numbered buses (within the one-hour transfer period). If you are able to run your errand quickly, you can use the same ticket for the return trip.

During the evenings after 17.30 and on the weekends, a single ticket only costs €2.00, and €1.00 for children, as before. Persons travelling with prams and pushchairs can still travel for free on the low-floor buses running in the urban area.

Changes to multi-tickets

Changes will also be made to multi-tickets. From the beginning of May, the multi-ticket for 22 trips for people aged 65 or older costs the same as the multi-ticket for students and children. A veteran's pass still entitles the person to free travel.

With this reform, trips made by students from Skinnarila to the city centre will be easier and cost less, because students are no longer required to be registered residents of Lappeenranta to buy tickets at student prices.

You can purchase a multi-ticket for 22 trips for Lappeenranta’s local public transport buses. The ticket is valid for a period of three months. The multi-tickets also include the right to transfer to another bus within one hour from the start of the trip. The multi-tickets for children, students and senior citizens (65+) cost € 35. The multi-ticket for 22 trips for adults costs € 50. A multi-ticket for 44 trips for local public transport is also available for students.

The former City Cards with a validity period of 30 days can still be used. Old and new travel cards can be purchased from Matkahuolto or Aalef Oy, located in the university’s main lobby, and in addition to these places, more time can be loaded on the cards at R-kiosks and on the buses.

FURTHER INFORMATION: Traffic Engineer Birgitta Nakari, tel. +358 40 502 5263, birgitta.nakari@lappeenranta.fi

Lappeenranta’s ticket products as of 1 May 2014

Single ticket for local public transport
Adults € 3.00 (was € 3.30–3.60), children under 12 years € 1.50 (was € 1.70–1.80)
(new feature>) Weekends, public holidays and weekdays after 17.30:
Adults € 2.00, children under 12 years €1.00
(New feature>) Includes a 60-minute transfer right

Multi-ticket for 22 trips for local public transport (new product)
Adults (16−64 years) €50
Adults (65+) €35
Students (full-time) €35
Children and young people (4−15 years) €35
Valid for 3 months, includes a 60-minute transfer right

Student multi-ticket for 44 trips for local public transport
Full-time students €51
Valid for 3 months, (new feature>) includes a 60-minute transfer right
(new feature>) The student does not need to be a registered resident of Lappeenranta

City Card (no changes)
City Card for adults € 54
City Card for students € 43
City Card for young people (12−16 years) € 35
City Card for children (4−11 years) € 25
Valid for 30 days from the date of purchase

Veteran’s pass
valid as before, entitled to free travel

Persons travelling with a pram or a pushchair
are entitled to travel for free, as before, on the low-floor buses running on bus routes 1, 2, 3, 3K, 4, 5, 9 an 10.