adminCharity Ruzvidzo Business Reporter
LUXURY coach operators plying the Harare-Bulawayo route have reduced fares by about 30 percent in a bid to attract more customers amid increased competition.Travellers will now enjoy lower fares after the operators cut prices by margins of between $5 to $10.
A snap survey conducted by Business Chronicle revealed that Pathfinder Luxury coaches, which used to charge between $30 and $40 for a Bulawayo-Harare trip, have reduced their fare to $20.
“We always have promotions during this time of the year. The charges have been reduced from $30 to $20 from Bulawayo to Harare. The travellers will not be offered any meals,” said a Pathfinder official only identified as Tafadzwa.
City Link coaches have also introduced a new coach that charges $20 for the Bulawayo-Harare trip in addition to its $30 morning and afternoon travel schedule.
“We’ve two trips per day for the Bulawayo to Harare route. The coaches leave Bulawayo at 7:30AM and 2:00PM at the cost of $30 with meals offered.
“We recently introduced another trip at 9:30AM at the cost of $20, no meals are offered,” said a City Link official who preferred anonymity.
Bravo Coaches has also reduced its fares from $30 to $25.
Eagle Liner, a semi luxury coach plying the same route, is also charging $20 with no food offered.
“Our charges have always been $20 for the Bulawayo to Harare route. The coaches, which are reducing fares are lowering to match our charges,” said an official at the bus company.
Due to economic challenges most travellers cannot afford luxury coaches and prefer public transport which charge $15 per trip or less as the fare is negotiable.
This is despite the attendant hassles of discomfort, poor treatment, delays and overloading.
“Bulawayo to Harare route costs $15 during this time of the year since we’ve few travellers.
“The charges usually increase during the festive seasons when we’ve an increased number of travellers,” said Paul Dube, a Leopard Coaches driver.
There has been increased competition from operators along Bulawayo-Harare road with the entrance of new players such as Extra-City and King Lion.
Online Reporter