Start Romagna increasing prices and voiding old tickets
On 1 June 2026, Start Romagna announced that they would be increasing the prices for their tickets and that they would increase the fines for travelling without one.
Background
[edit | edit source]Start Romagna is an Italian transport company based in Emilia-Romagna. It provides the main bus service for Ravenna, Forli'-Cesena and Rimini.
Start Romagna price increase
[edit | edit source]On 1 June 2026, Start Romagna announced that they would be increasing the prices of their tickets,[1] while also changing from a magnetic stripe-validated ticket to a QR code-validated ticket.[1] As part of the changes, it was stated that the old tickets would only be valid for the next two months[1] and that the fine for travelling without a ticket would increase.[2]
Start Romagna stated that old tickets could be used until 31 July 2026, and could be replaced at Punto Bus Start Romagna offices between 1 August 2026 and 31 May 2027 by paying the fare difference, after which they would be rendered void.[1]
Under the new tariffs, the one-zone single ticket rose from €1.50 to €2.00, the 10-ride carnet from €14.00 to €18.00, and the one-zone monthly pass from €32.00 to €38.00.[3] The June 2026 tariff guide set the fine for travelling without a ticket at €75.00 if paid within five days, €100.00 if paid between six and 60 days, and €300.00 if paid after 60 days, in each case in addition to the single-ride fare with surcharge.[4]
Start Romagna's response
[edit | edit source]Company president Andrea Corsini described the increase as a decision the company understood could cause disruption to citizens, but as necessary in a changed economic context, stating that without a tariff adjustment it would be increasingly difficult to maintain required service standards.[3] He attributed the increase to general cost rises and in particular fuel prices, which he stated would grow from €8 million to more than €10 million per year, and stated that fares covered around 30% of the cost of the service.[5]
Consumer response
[edit | edit source]Trade unions Filt Cgil and Cgil, active across the provinces served by the company, stated in October 2026 that it was not acceptable to ask users for a greater economic contribution while a reduction in scheduled services was also being considered, and called for an inter-provincial consultation on the service's future.[5] Local Forza Italia politicians in Forlì argued that public transport users had already absorbed the June ticket price increase, and that rather than treating honest citizens as "human cash machines" the service should be better planned.[6]
References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Nuove tariffe dal 1° giugno" [New rates starting June 1st]. Start Romagna (in italiano). 2026. Archived from the original on 2026-06-14. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ "Normativa Sanzioni Amministrative" [Administrative Sanctions Regulations] (PDF). Start Romagna (in italiano). August 2026. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2026-09-26. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Start Romagna, dal 1 giugno aumentano le tariffe" [Start Romagna: fares to increase from June 1st]. Ravenna24ore. 2026-05-23. Archived from the original on 2026-11-02. Retrieved 2026-11-02.
- ↑ "Guida alle tariffe 2026" [2026 tariff guide] (PDF). Start Romagna (in italiano). June 2026. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2026-11-02. Retrieved 2026-11-02.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Tpl Romagna, i sindacati: no ai tagli senza confronto" [Public transport in Romagna, the unions: no to cuts without consultation]. Collettiva. 2026-10-14. Archived from the original on 2026-10-15. Retrieved 2026-11-02.
- ↑ "Start Romagna e il rischio dei tagli delle corse, Forza Italia" [Start Romagna and the risk of service cuts, Forza Italia]. ForlìToday. 2026-10-16. Archived from the original on 2026-10-17. Retrieved 2026-11-02.