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Transport Tickets and Fares

'Connect' tickets on local bus services, and railcards for train travel

Connect

LOGO: Connect local bus network

'Connect' is the branding for the network of bus services in West Berkshire. The 'Connect' initiative includes Icon for pdf great value tickets [273KB]  for customers travelling on bus services supported by the council and on many other local routes, saving money for frequent travellers as well as occasional users.

'Connect' tickets can be bought in advance using the following app meaning you can use your phone as your ticket.

  •  Newbury and District app, developed by the bus company, is free to download for Android or Apple phones, just search 'Newbury and District' in the app or play store.
  • Oxford Bus app, developed by the company, is free to download for Android or Apple phones, just search 'Oxford Bus' in the app or play store. Thames Travel are part of Oxford Bus Company. 

Alternatively, you can buy 'Connect' tickets from the driver when you board the bus. 

As well as cash, West Berkshire Council, Newbury and District , Reading Buses and Thames Travel accept contactless card payments and mobile payment using AndroidPay or ApplePay, on the commercial and supported services that they operate.

For full details of the 'Connect' tickets see our Icon for pdf Connect tickets and fares summary [273KB] . You can also contact the Transport Services Team if you have a specific enquiry about tickets or fares.

Youth Fares 

The following table provides information about child and youth fares available on the public bus network in West Berkshire. 

Operator Services Information
Reading BusesJet Black1, Lime 2/2a, 15, 16, 26, 33, 85, 86, 87 & 90Guide to Reading Buses Boost Range
Newbury & District1a, 1c, 1d, 3c, 103, 103a & 103b Guide to Newbury & District fares and Connect Tickets - prices and validity information available below. 
Newbury & District 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 & 9 Connect Ticket - price and validity information available below. 
Stagecoach SouthThe LINK, 7/7a Guide to Stagecoach South tickets
Stagecoach West46 & 48 Guide to Stagecoach West tickets
Swindon Buses20, X20, X22Guide to Swindon Buses fares
Thames TravelX34, 143 & BB3Guide to Thames Travel fares 
Going Forward Buses 133, 142 Guide to Going Forward Fares
Horseman Coaches154

Beech Hill to Reading child single £1.00

Beech Hill to Reading child return £2.00

Ramsbury Community BusThe Ramsbury Flyer to be confirmed 
Carebus Volunteer Group75to be confirmed 
WBC Connect5, 5a, 5c, 41, 44, 47 & H1Connect Tickets - price and validity information available below. 

 

Connect Child/Youth Fares

Connect tickets are valid on many routes across West Berkshire. Information about validity can be found in our Connect tickets and fare summary. 

Ticket TypeUrban FareRural FareSuitable for
Child Single

n/a

n/a

Any one-way journey on one route.  The fare depends on where you board and alight. The fare will be cheaper than the equivalent adult single. A £2 single fare cap is in place for many services until 31 October 2023. 

Child Returnn/an/aAny return journey on one route made on the same day. The fare depends on where you board and alight. The fare will be cheaper than the equivalent adult return. A £4 fare cap is in place for many services until 31 October 2023. 
Connect Day£4.00£4.00Unlimited use for one day on valid routes. 
FlexiConnect £12.00£14.00Up to ten single journeys, on valid routes. 
Connect 7-day£12.00£14.00Unlimited use for 7 consecutive days, on valid routes. 
Connect 30-day£42.00£54.00Unlimited use for 30 consecutive days, on valid routes. 

 

Early Bird Concessionary Fare Ticket

An "early bird" concessionary fare ticket can currently be purchased before 9.30am on weekdays when showing a valid bus pass on all Newbury & District services and the Jet Black 1 (between Newbury and Colthrop).

If boarding in the urban Newbury and Thatcham zone, it will cost £1.50; if boarding in the rural zone, it will cost £2.00. Further information can be found on Reading Buses website. 

Details of validity and zones are as follows:

Newbury/Thatcham Urban Boundary

ServicesOperatorOuter Boundary Point
1a, 1c, 1d, 2, 8, 9, 103Newbury & DistrictEntire route
Jet Black 1Reading BusesColthrop Turn (only valid on journeys between Newbury and Colthrop Turn)
3Newbury & DistrictSunderland Gardens (Enborne Road) 
3c, 3xNewbury & DistrictSpeen
4Newbury & DistrictStockcross
5WBC ConnectWoodspeen 
6Newbury & DistrictShaw Cemetery
6aNewbury & DistrictDonnington Castle PH
7/7a, The LINKStagecoach SouthWhole route within West Berkshire (only for journeys within West Berkshire) 
X34Thames Travel Vodafone roundabout (only for journeys within West Berkshire) 
41WBC ConnectCold Ash 
44WBC Connect Thatcham Station 

Rural Boundary

ServicesOperatorOuter Boundary Point
Lime 2/2aReading BusesNot valid 
X34Thames Travel Harwell Campus (only valid for journeys between Newbury and Harwell Campus) 
143Thames TravelWhole route within West Berkshire 
3, 3c, 3x, 4, 6, 6aNewbury & DistrictRemainder of route within West Berkshire. 
5, 41, 44 & 47WBC ConnectRemainder of route within West Berkshire

The early bird concessionary fare ticket will not be available on the following bus routes:

ServicesOperatorReason
 2, 46a, X46Stagecoachservices do not operate significantly within West Berkshire
20, X22Swindon Busesservices do not operate significantly within West Berkshire
133Going Forward Busesservices do not operate significantly within West Berkshire 
5a, 5c, H1WBC Connectservices do not operate before 9.30am 
145Going Forward Busesservice does not operate before 9.30am 
75Carebus Volunteer Group service does not operate before 9.30am 
154Horseman Coachesservice does not operate before 9.30am 
15, 16, 26, 26, 33, Jet Black 1 east of (Colthrop Turn)Reading Busesto be considered at a later stage. 

The Early Bird Tickets were initially made available for a three-month trial between January and March 2023. 

At the end of March 2023, a decision will be made by each operator who participated in the trial to make the offer permanent. 

Contactless Payments

West Berkshire Council Connect bus services supports contactless payments  - 5, 5a, 5c, 41, 44 and 47. This will make travelling a lot more convenient with contactless payments being available on more bus services in West Berkshire. Contactless is the fast, easy and secure way to pay for transactions under £100.  All you need is a contactless-enabled card or mobile with Apple Pay or Google Pay installed and ready to use. 

Contactless FAQ


Can I pay part cash part contactless on the bus?
You are unable to pay part cash, part contactless on board the bus. 


Which contactless cards can I use?
Contactless payment cards issued for Visa, Mastercard and Maestro can be used. We're unable to accept payments by Amercian Express.


Can you use Apple/Google Pay on the bus?
Yes, you can use Apple Pay and Google Pay.


Which tickets can I buy with contactless?
You can buy any tickets up to the value of £100

 

Railcards

The Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) operates a range of Railcard schemes that offer discounted travel by train, including the Disabled Persons Railcard.

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