Transport Tickets and Fares
'Connect' tickets on local bus services, and railcards for train travel
Connect
'Connect' is the branding for the network of bus services in West Berkshire. The 'Connect' initiative includes 
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
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 Buses | Jet Black1, Lime 2/2a, 15, 16, 26, 33, 85, 86, 87 & 90 | Guide to Reading Buses Boost Range |
| Newbury & District | 1a, 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 South | The LINK, 7/7a | Guide to Stagecoach South tickets |
| Stagecoach West | 46 & 48 | Guide to Stagecoach West tickets |
| Swindon Buses | 20, X20, X22 | Guide to Swindon Buses fares |
| Thames Travel | X34, 143 & BB3 | Guide to Thames Travel fares |
| Going Forward Buses | 133, 142 | Guide to Going Forward Fares |
| Horseman Coaches | 154 | Beech Hill to Reading child single £1.00 Beech Hill to Reading child return £2.00 |
| Ramsbury Community Bus | The Ramsbury Flyer | to be confirmed |
| Carebus Volunteer Group | 75 | to be confirmed |
| WBC Connect | 5, 5a, 5c, 41, 44, 47 & H1 | Connect 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 Type | Urban Fare | Rural Fare | Suitable 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 Return | n/a | n/a | Any 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 | £4.00 | Unlimited use for one day on valid routes. |
| FlexiConnect | £12.00 | £14.00 | Up to ten single journeys, on valid routes. |
| Connect 7-day | £12.00 | £14.00 | Unlimited use for 7 consecutive days, on valid routes. |
| Connect 30-day | £42.00 | £54.00 | Unlimited 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
| Services | Operator | Outer Boundary Point |
|---|---|---|
| 1a, 1c, 1d, 2, 8, 9, 103 | Newbury & District | Entire route |
| Jet Black 1 | Reading Buses | Colthrop Turn (only valid on journeys between Newbury and Colthrop Turn) |
| 3 | Newbury & District | Sunderland Gardens (Enborne Road) |
| 3c, 3x | Newbury & District | Speen |
| 4 | Newbury & District | Stockcross |
| 5 | WBC Connect | Woodspeen |
| 6 | Newbury & District | Shaw Cemetery |
| 6a | Newbury & District | Donnington Castle PH |
| 7/7a, The LINK | Stagecoach South | Whole route within West Berkshire (only for journeys within West Berkshire) |
| X34 | Thames Travel | Vodafone roundabout (only for journeys within West Berkshire) |
| 41 | WBC Connect | Cold Ash |
| 44 | WBC Connect | Thatcham Station |
Rural Boundary
| Services | Operator | Outer Boundary Point |
|---|---|---|
| Lime 2/2a | Reading Buses | Not valid |
| X34 | Thames Travel | Harwell Campus (only valid for journeys between Newbury and Harwell Campus) |
| 143 | Thames Travel | Whole route within West Berkshire |
| 3, 3c, 3x, 4, 6, 6a | Newbury & District | Remainder of route within West Berkshire. |
| 5, 41, 44 & 47 | WBC Connect | Remainder of route within West Berkshire |
The early bird concessionary fare ticket will not be available on the following bus routes:
| Services | Operator | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 2, 46a, X46 | Stagecoach | services do not operate significantly within West Berkshire |
| 20, X22 | Swindon Buses | services do not operate significantly within West Berkshire |
| 133 | Going Forward Buses | services do not operate significantly within West Berkshire |
| 5a, 5c, H1 | WBC Connect | services do not operate before 9.30am |
| 145 | Going Forward Buses | service does not operate before 9.30am |
| 75 | Carebus Volunteer Group | service does not operate before 9.30am |
| 154 | Horseman Coaches | service does not operate before 9.30am |
| 15, 16, 26, 26, 33, Jet Black 1 east of (Colthrop Turn) | Reading Buses | to 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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