Tap On Tap Off on Local Bus services

Information about how Tap On Tap Off works on Connect buses.

How it works

When you board the bus, just tap your contactless bank card or your mobile phone/device on the reader.

You do not need to ask the driver for a ticket and say where you are going; however, saying hello to the driver is always welcome. You will not be given a physical ticket.

When you leave the vehicle, tap your card or mobile phone/device on the card reader by the driver. This will ensure that you pay the correct fare for your journey.

It is very important to remember to tap off when leaving the vehicle as you may find that you are charged more for the journey than you were expecting if you do not.

Payment

Until December 2025, journeys are capped at £3 for a single ticket, meaning the highest you will pay is £3 per single trip.

Card clash

If you are paying with a physical bank/credit card, then you should ensure that it is taken out of your wallet or purse to avoid so called 'card clash'.

This is where the reader may attempt to read more than one card at a time, and you may find that the wrong card is charged and you could end up paying more or the card will not work which could cause delays to journeys.

Acceptance of cards

We accept Mastercard and Visa which display the contactless symbol.

You can also use devices which support Apple Pay and Google Pay.

We cannot accept American Express cards or pre-paid cards.

Using more than one card or device on the same day

You should use the same contactless card or device when travelling on a particular day to ensure you get the best value fare.

If you use a different card or device, you may get charged more than you were expecting.

Payments by phone

If using an iPhone to make payment, then you can enable Express Mode for the payment card (if the phone is compatible) so you can tap on and tap off without unlocking the phone.

Information on how to do this can be found on the Apple website.

Please ensure that your phone is fully charged if you wish to use the Tap On/Tap Off function. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have a valid ticket or payment method available when travelling by bus.

Travelling in groups

If you are travelling with others and wish to use tap on tap off then each person would need to use a unique payment method (e.g. alternative bank card/device).

Multiple tickets can still be brought direct from the driver; just ask about ticket(s) you require when boarding the bus.

Travelling more often

If you travel on most days of the week then it is likely that purchasing a weekly, monthly or flexi 10-trip ticket may be more value for money.

These can be purchased direct from the driver. More information on these tickets can be found on the Transport Tickets and Fares page.

Other payment methods

Concessionary Bus Passes

You can still use concessionary bus passes during the permitted travel times.

Simply tap your pass on ticket machine when boarding the bus.

Connect tickets

Connect tickets can still be purchased from the driver.

Connect tickets purchased from Newbury & District passenger app will still be accepted.

You can find out more information about Connect Tickets on our Transport Tickets and Fares page.

Single and return tickets

You will still be able to purchase single and return tickets when boarding the vehicle.

Card and cash payments

We will continue to accept cash and contactless cards payments.

Registering for Tap On Tap Off

There is no need to register or sign up before using tap on tap off.

Other bus operators

Other local bus operators also offer Tap On and Tap Off on their bus services. You can find out more on their websites.

Tap On Tap Off services operated by West Berkshire Council have been made possible by funding from HM Government, given to West Berkshire Council after submission of a Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) in October 2021.