SPT is expected to increase fares on 1 January to meet increased costs.

Within recent months, SPT has been hit by an £800,000 rise in power charges and the majority of this has been to run the Subway network.

In order to meet these costs, fare increases have been proposed for the start of 2009.

Subject to approval by SPT's Strategy and Programmes Committee and Partnership, the price of a single adult Subway fare will rise from £1.10 to £1.20, with a return increasing from £2.20 to £2.40. The same fares will also apply on the Renfrew Ferry.

When SPT last increased fares, in April 2008, this was in line with inflation and had followed a three-year price freeze.

However, increasing fuel prices and further forecasted costs have prompted another, earlier than expected, rise.

Despite these price changes, the Glasgow Subway still has some of the lowest single journey fares in Europe.

SPT Chair Alistair Watson said: "We know everyone is strapped for cash at the moment and this was a difficult decision for us as a result.

"Faced with an increased fuel bill of almost £800,000 and other escalating operating costs we have no other option open to us than increasing fares."

In the past, fare increases have been implemented on 1 April but SPT has decided to put in place an increase on 1 January, which will allow it to offset some of the current increases.

This also brings Subway price rises into line with those annual increases introduced by other transport operators.

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