Transport Tickets and Fares

Connect

'Connect' is the branding for the network of bus services in West Berkshire.

The 'Connect' initiative includes great value tickets 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 adult fares

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.

Child fares apply for 5 to 16-year-olds (inclusive) and young people aged through 18 (up to 19th birthday) who are in full-time education, if they produce valid identification, such as a CitizenCard or valid student ID.

Where and on which bus routes are the Connect tickets valid?

The following table identifies local bus routes on which these tickets are sold and/or accepted. They are not currently sold or accepted on any other services, although we are working with operators to extend validity. (Connect urban and connect rural includes: Connect Day, Connect 7-day, Connect 30-day, FlexiConnect and Connect Group Day.)

'Connect' tickets can be bought in advance using the bus company app, meaning you can use your phone as your ticket. 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, Stagecoach and Thames Travel accept contactless card payments and mobile payment using AndroidPay or ApplePay, on the commercial and supported services that they operate.

You can contact the Transport Services Team if you have a specific enquiry about tickets or fares.
 

Tickets for the 47 Service

The following tickets are sold on the 47 service which runs between Lambourn and Swindon. Connect Tickets are only valid on this service between Lambourn and Upper Lambourn. 

MyBus Oxfordshire tickets

The MyBus Oxfordshire ticket is one ticket to travel all over Oxfordshire by bus. The MyBus Oxfordshire ticket provides one day or one week's unlimited travel on nearly all local bus services in the county. Whether you want to explore the county, or simply make your journey to work easier, the MyBus ticket presents a simple, joined up and good value bus travel solution for Oxfordshire's residents and visitors.

From Sunday 14 July 2024, MyBus Oxfordshire Day tickets will be sold on bus for route 47 between Lambourn and Swindon. The service will also accept day and weekly tickets (both paper and app purchases) issued by other participating operators. 

The MyBus tickets are brought to you by the Oxfordshire Bus Enhanced Partnership to promote the use of bus services in Oxfordshire using Bus Service Improvement (BSIP) funding provided by the Department for Transport.
 

Youth fares

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

National Fare Cap for bus journeys

You may have heard the Government's announcement about a £3 single fare cap on bus journeys being introduced on many bus services in England from the 1 January 2025. It will be in place until 31 December 2025. 

This will be applied on bus services that operate in West Berkshire. Please check with the individual bus operators listed below for the latest information on the capping of single fares across the district. 

• Newbury & District 
• Reading Buses 
• Stagecoach 
• Swindon Bus Company
• Thames Travel/Oxford Bus Company 
• West Berkshire Council Transport Services - the cap will be applied to the 47 route. Fares on West Berkshire Community Connect: On-demand Transport are not currently part of the National Fare cap scheme. 

You can find a list of operators taking part on the Government's website. 

Early Bird Concessionary Fare Ticket

Concessionary Bus Passes issued by West Berkshire Council and by other local authorities to eligible people are valid for free travel on local bus routes (with the exception of football/rugby bus routes) after 09:30 (9:30 a.m.) on weekdays, all day at weekends and on Public Holidays. For more details about the concessionary Bus Passes, please visit About Bus Passes for Older and Disabled People. 

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. Further information can be found on Reading Buses website. 

The early bird ticket is also available on Thames Travel and some Stagecoach routes that serve West Berkshire. 

Details of validity and zones are as follows:
 

Newbury/Thatcham Urban Boundary

Rural Boundary

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

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 was made by each operator who participated in the trial to make the offer permanent.
 

Bus company apps

• 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 - it allows you to get tickets on your smartphone, plan your journey and track Newbury & District (including the Jet Black 1) services
• Reading Bus App, developed by the bus company, is free to download for Android or Apples phones, just search for 'Reading Buses' in the app or play store - it allows you to get tickets on your smartphone, plan your journey and track Reading Buses services (does not include Newbury & District services)
• 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
• Stagecoach Bus App, developed by the company, is free to downland for Android or Apple phones, just search 'Stagecoach' in the app or play store - it allows you to get tickets on your smartphone, plan your journey and get service updates for 2, 7/7a, 46a/X46 and The LINK
• Swindon Bus App, developed by the bus company, is free to download for Android or Apple phones, just search for 'Swindon Bus' in the app or play store - it allows you to get tickets on your smartphone, plan your journey and get service updates for X20, 110/120 
• West Berkshire Community Connect App, is free to downland for Android or Apple phones, available for booking journeys on the on-demand transport services provided by West Berkshire Council: Northwest Downlands and Thatcham Connect. 

Contactless payments

West Berkshire Council Connect bus services supports contactless payments - West Berkshire Community Connect Northwest Downlands, West Berkshire Community Connect Thatcham Connect, CCA, CCB, CCC and the 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.

Reading Buses, Salisbury Reds, Stagecoach, Swindon Buses, and Thames Travel also offer contactless payments.
 

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?

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.