Plusbus day tickets with a season

[button_boxer]

Can any ticket office staff confirm for me whether it's possible to buy Plusbus day tickets in conjunction with a rail season ticket? My wife holds a monthly season ticket between Derby and Birmingham, but once or twice a week she needs to use the buses in Derby after work. She's been buying Arriva day savers at £3.60, but a Derby plusbus is only £3. I emailed plusbus to ask

Is it possible to buy one day plusbus tickets in combination with a rail season ticket (either when the season ticket is issued, or later by showing the season ticket at a ticket office)?

and they half answered:

Yes, you can buy daily or weekly PLUSBUS tickets with your rail season ticket.

Can anyone here confirm whether it is possible to buy a plusbus day ticket for (say) the current day simply by showing an in-date season at the ticket office, or would the day ticket(s) have to be issued at the same time as the season ticket issue or renewal?

 

[Dewedin]

Can I ask why you think this wouldn't be allowed? As far as I know the only prerequisite for buying Plusbus for your origin or destination is a valid rail ticket that goes outside the immediate area. So just go to the ticket office, show your season and ask for Plusbus for today.

 

[button_boxer]

Can I ask why you think this wouldn't be allowed? As far as I know the only prerequisite for buying Plusbus for your origin or destination is a valid rail ticket that goes outside the immediate area. So just go to the ticket office, show your season and ask for Plusbus for today.

Only that the instructions for ticket office staff don't mention it - they only talk about issuing plusbus at the same time as issuing rail tickets, and that for a rail season ticket you should issue a plusbus season ticket too. I suspect it may be one of those things that depends on which particular member of staff you are dealing with on each occasion, but wanted to check if there's a (non-public) general policy.

 

[monkey]

...I was going to start thread on PlusBus, but I guess it can go here. I have to say it can be be more of nightmare than a godsend. yes it saves you money, but half the bus drivers don't recognised or have a clue what it is (especially when I was in tyne and wear last week). And if they are not aware of it, you just end up being nervous, and waiting for it to be refused and not accepted for travel.

Also its not just bus drivers seem to be confused about it, some ticket office staff at train stations don't seem to have much awareness of it, like in leeds recently where the guy basically said he didn't know how to do it...

 

[mickey]

If you buy e.g. a SVR you can choose whether to add plusbus for one or both of the journeys, so I see no reason why it can't be done. Why not ask at Derby station, or perhaps New St if it's supposed to be issued out of the area?

 

[Tom B]

I've bought a plusbus alone before - it is £2.30 with a YPR whereas a day "saver" is £4.80. I've actually had no problems using them and this is with FirstBus - if someone refused it I would not budge until he had called his controller and enquired.

 

[mickey]

...I was going to start thread on PlusBus, but I guess it can go here. I have to say it can be be more of nightmare than a godsend. yes it saves you money, but half the bus drivers don't recognised or have a clue what it is [...]
Also its not just bus drivers seem to be confused about it, some ticket office staff at train stations don't seem to have much awareness of it, like in leeds recently where the guy basically said he didn't know how to do it...

The buses round here have stickers near the door saying 'plusbus accepted', and if it's the same where you are just point to it! Having said that, there are so many ticket types here (Merseyside) that drivers have to be fairly well briefed.

The plusbus website gives the NLC codes for all plusbus destinations so it can help if you take a copy to give/show to ticket issuing staff. It shouldn't have to be that way but I've often found they're just nervous if they haven't issued something before but if the computer lets them they assume it must be ok.

 

[Greenback]

I haven't had any problems with the Plusbus tickets being recognised in either Cardiff or Swansea

 

[Deerfold]

I haven't had any problems with the Plusbus tickets being recognised in either Cardiff or Swansea

I think I've mentioned it before. I used to have loads of problems with drivers in Hitchin - to the point where I went back to walking to the station rather than having a daily argument.

I suspect you'd have problems in West Yorkshire too where I believe pluspus is valid throughout the county whichever station you get it to(but you try and find any documentation that says either that or otherwise).

 

[philjo]

Get a copy of the relevant leaflet or print it from the plusbus website that shows the map of the area you can use your ticket in.

I haven't had any arguments for some time but in Potters Bar they always used to confuse them with London travelcards which are valid on the some of the buses but with a different boundary so wanted to ask us to pay extra when we had gone past stop for the travelcard boundary. (plus bus is valid to some places beyond the London travelcard boundary in one direction ). Showing the map to the bus driver tended to help. (though one particular driver always refused to accept that the map was genuine)
A bus conductor in York once told me that it "was a train ticket so not valid...." but the map did the trick (he said that he had never seen one before).

 

[Deerfold]

Get a copy of the relevant leaflet or print it from the plusbus website that shows the map of the area you can use your ticket in.

I used to carry the leaflet in Hitchin. There doesn't seem to be a leaflet in West Yorkshire and the online maps don't actually show the boundaries...

My local one is http://www.plusbus.info/sites/default/files/pdfs/PB0809.pdf

Ooh - they have now added http://www.plusbus.info/sites/default/files/pdfs/West Yorkshire zone boundaries.pdf which gives the limits of the "West Yorkshire zone". Unfortunately the ticket isn't issued to the "West Yorkshire zone" and doesn't mention that anywhere on it...And it lists Blackstone Edge Reservoir as a boundary although it's around 6 years since any buses took this route.

A bus conductor in York once told me that it "was a train ticket so not valid...." but the map did the trick (he said that he had never seen one before).

On route 4? I think you'll find it was a Customer Service Host. Yes, seriously.

 

[Solent&Wessex]

I've bought a plusbus alone before - it is £2.30 with a YPR whereas a day "saver" is £4.80. I've actually had no problems using them and this is with FirstBus - if someone refused it I would not budge until he had called his controller and enquired.

I had a Transdev driver tell me adamantly that it wasn't valid on their buses. I insisted it was and wouldn't budge until he checked. He shouted at me loudly that it wasn't valid and that he couldn't check. As I refused to pay or get off he phoned the control, said that he had some idiot trying to use a train ticket on the bus and wanted confirmation it wasn't valid. The controller obviously asked him what the ticket said as he read it out down the phone. Amusingly the control obviously told him it was valid as without uttering another word he threw the ticket back at me then sped off at enormous speed sending everyone flying.

 

[Deerfold]

I had a Transdev driver tell me adamantly that it wasn't valid on their buses. I insisted it was and wouldn't budge until he checked. He shouted at me loudly that it wasn't valid and that he couldn't check. As I refused to pay or get off he phoned the control, said that he had some idiot trying to use a train ticket on the bus and wanted confirmation it wasn't valid. The controller obviously asked him what the ticket said as he read it out down the phone. Amusingly the control obviously told him it was valid as without uttering another word he threw the ticket back at me then sped off at enormous speed sending everyone flying.

Interesting that many of my problems were with a Transdev subsidiary - though the company in question is now part of Arriva.

 

[sheff1]

I have had problems with Plusbus tickets in Glasgow, Oxford and Chester.

In Glasgow the driver took my ticket and refused to accept the map I had, so I insisted he phoned his control who, of course, confirmed it was valid - much to his disgust.

In Oxford it was apparently 'only valid on local buses' - strange, as that was what I was on.

In Chester the driver said 'as far as I am concerned it is a train ticket and you can't use it'. I replied 'as far as I am concerned you are misinformed' and went and sat down. Rather than phone control, she just drove off.

All of the buses concerned were operated by companies who operate railway franchises, so why aren't the drivers aware of Plusbus ?

Makes you laugh when the Plusbus leaflets proclaims that one of the advantages of the scheme is to 'reduce hassle'.:roll:

 

[142094]

It is surprising how few passengers know about PlusBus tickets - in over 600 people I've asked at York only one had a PlusBus ticket.

 

[WestCoast]

It is surprising how few passengers know about PlusBus tickets - in over 600 people I've asked at York only one had a PlusBus ticket.

Quite surprising the amount of people that have no clue about PlusBus - it can work out considerably cheaper as well!

All of the buses concerned were operated by companies who operate railway franchises, so why aren't the drivers aware of Plusbus ?

Makes you laugh when the Plusbus leaflets proclaims that one of the advantages of the scheme is to 'reduce hassle

I have used the ticket on quite a number of operators. In my experience the smaller, independent bus operators and municipal council operators are the best! I've used Lothian Buses, Blackpool Transport, Preston Bus, Warrington Borough Transport and Cardiff Bus and had no problems.

I've had an argument with a Stagecoach driver who said "that is a rail ticket, you can't fool me", and then told me to pay. I said "what do you think plusbus is?". He was adamant then and ordered me to get off, not even offering me the chance to pay (not that I would relent)! I asked for his number and he would not tell me, so I stormed off wrote the bus fleet number down and submitted a formal complaint. I got a free dayrider voucher and an apology.....

 

[142094]

Quite surprising the amount of people that have no clue about PlusBus - it can work out considerably cheaper as well!

The only advertising I've seen is posters at stations - which most people don't look at anyway. Plus not exactly useful if you're going to the station on the day and buying the ticket there - can't really get a PlusBus for that.

 

[Solent&Wessex]

The posters and other adverts are all shocking, with just big cheesy pictures of a student or somebody grinning inanely at you. They do not look appealing or interesting so no wonder no one looks at them.

On the other hand, I see a lot of York plus bus season tickets on the trains. There appear to be a lot of commuters from Leeds with them. Hull is the same. I see loads of Hull plusbus season tickets on the train. But very rarely if ever see a Leeds or Manchester one. Although someone did ask to buy a Leeds plusbus on the train from me the other week. He was coming from Manchester and looked like a spotter. I was astonished to be asked for one and he seemed equally astonished that I actually knew how to do it!

 

[monkey]

...while I think its good, that people make a stand to force plusbus to be accepted where it should be, a lot of people, me included, don't have the confidence stand up, or the will to deal with the hassle that is because bus drivers don't know their stuff... if it is to be implemented, all staff should know full well what one is... and rail ticket staff should deffo know what one is and be able to issue one...

 

[mickey]

in over 600 people I've asked at York only one had a PlusBus ticket.

Why were you asking 600 people if they had a plusbus ticket? Do you work for plusbus or something?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

He was coming from Manchester and looked like a spotter.

So what does a spotter look like then? Anorak and thermos?

 

[Greenback]

I think I've mentioned it before. I used to have loads of problems with drivers in Hitchin - to the point where I went back to walking to the station rather than having a daily argument.

I suspect you'd have problems in West Yorkshire too where I believe pluspus is valid throughout the county whichever station you get it to(but you try and find any documentation that says either that or otherwise).

I've got one for Crawley later this month, I wonder if I'll have any problems there? I shall report back if I do!

In Chester the driver said 'as far as I am concerned it is a train ticket and you can't use it'. I replied 'as far as I am concerned you are misinformed' and went and sat down. Rather than phone control, she just drove off.

Yes it is a trian ticket with the words Plusbus on it! What does she think that means then?!!!

It is surprising how few passengers know about PlusBus tickets - in over 600 people I've asked at York only one had a PlusBus ticket.

MAybe the problem is that they are comparitively rare. As more people (hopefully!) get to know about them and use them, perhaps the awareness will increase amongst bus drivers as well.

 

[142094]

Why were you asking 600 people if they had a plusbus ticket? Do you work for plusbus or something?

University work, one of many questions about people's journeys. If I did work for PlusBus I'd want to know why so few people have the tickets - comapre it to say Railcards where nearly 95% either had one of knew that they were available for certain groups.