Stagecoach are set to back down on their decision to increase child fares by 200 per cent after a raft of angry protests.
There was a public outcry when the bus company announced they were scrapping the £1 child add-on tickets which were first introduced seven years ago, without informing or consulting with councillors or passengers.
But at a Devon County Council Cabinet meeting on Wednesday morning, Cllr Emma Brennan, who has led the campaign against the fare rise said that a meeting will take place on Thursday in which they would be presenting a new set of fares.
It comes after Stagecoach announced it would be bringing in single fares or £3 dayriders for children which equated to an increase of 200 per cent.
An adult travelling with one child for a day of travel within Exeter will now have to pay £7 - a £4 adult dayrider plus £3 child dayrider - rather than £4.90 - a £3.90 adult dayrider plus £1 child add-on.
Single parents and families with tight budgets said they are no longer able to travel by bus, are becoming socially isolated, or are finding it cheaper to take the car or train than the bus.
She had outlined the impact it was having on families and said: "Overnight there was a 200 per cent increase in fares for children travelling with an adult. This action by Stagecoach hits the poorest families hardest, including single parent families and those unable to afford a car.
"As the majority of single parents are women, and most adults travelling alone with children are likely to be women, the action disproportionately impacts women more than men.
She also added that the only policy on child fares is that child fares should be two thirds of the adult fare, but Stagecoach's changes don't meet that as the £3 fare is three quarters of the adult fare.
Leader of the council, Cllr John Hart said that while the County Council can press Stagecoach consider its position, it would have to be in the context of a commercial decision as they are a commercial operator.
More than 1,800 had signed a petition against the change in fares, and at a recent council meeting, Robert Williams, Commercial Director of Stagecoach and Bob Dennison, managing director of Stagecoach South West, had told angry councillors that they would look again at the price changes.
Stagecoach have been contacted for further comment in relation to the meeting scheduled for Thursday.