Transport companies in 35 Russian regions raise fares or cut routes amid fuel crisis, iStories reports

Public transit fares have risen in 25 Russian regions, while carriers in another 10 have cut routes or reduced service schedules amid the fuel crisis, iStories, an independent Russian investigative outlet, reported, citing its own calculations.

In Irkutsk, the municipal carrier Irkutskavtotrans raised fares 20% on July 1, from 37 to 45 rubles. Private carriers followed. The fare between Irkutsk and Angarsk, 50 kilometers (31 miles) apart, climbed more than 30%, from 190 to 250 rubles.

In Altai Krai, Transmagistr raised the fare between Barnaul and Novaltaysk from 85 to 90 rubles, saying drivers were spending more than an hour at gas stations after their shifts — “and that’s all work time” — which drove up labor costs.

Fares in Buryatia rose more than 10% on routes to Ulan-Ude from towns 250 to 350 kilometers (155 to 217 miles) from the republic’s capital. A trip from the village of Isinga now costs 1,700 rubles, up from 1,500.

In Zabaykalsky Krai, carriers began canceling routes, extending intervals between departures, and raising fares as early as late June as fuel shortages set in.

A driver from Volgograd told journalists: “There is fuel — it’s diesel, not gasoline. For now there’s enough. It’s being reserved for buses at gas stations. But you have to wait for it. You have to do that after your shifts, off the clock. Some carriers in the city are having problems — guys stand at the pumps and can’t fill up completely. It’s hardest for small carriers working suburban routes. There you can see both canceled trips and higher prices.”

Russia’s fuel crisis, triggered by intensified Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries, has been ongoing for several weeks. Many regions have imposed limits on the number of liters that can be purchased at one time. These restrictions have been introduced by both authorities and gas station chains.