How does Plus Bus work?

[Jalinne]

I'm based out of Manchester and have to meet a client in Liverpool this Friday. My company booked me an advanced single ticket with a 'Plus Bus' option that I suppose should allow me to travel between Liverpool Lime Street to a certain destination and then back? How exactly does this work? Is it like a day pass in the area that it covers or does it allow me to only take buses from Liverpool Queen Bus Station and back to it? Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Gaelan]

It's a day pass.

 

[Jalinne]

@Gaelan oh cool! Just so I understand it correctly, I can travel multiple times throughout the day with it as long as I'm within the boundary as described in the TOS and with operators they have partnered with, right?

 

[Buzby]

Exactly. Do be prepared for drivers wanting to take a closer look at it (as it looks like a rail ticket, they get suspicious. I just say Plusbus when presenting it.

 

[Mike395]

Do be prepared for occasional pushback, some bus drivers aren't trained very well in terms of tickets they see less often but which are still valid. A lot of participating companies now seem to have 'PlusBus' stickers next to the entry door, which can be handy to point at!

 

[Jalinne]

@Mike395 in case they dont accept it, what would you recommend I do? Is there some proof I can show them or what do you suggest?

 

[Mike395]

@Mike395 in case they dont accept it, what would you recommend I do? Is there some proof I can show them or what do you suggest?

For most major operators, they'll have a sticker somewhere obvious. Other than that - showing the driver their location page here: https://plusbus.info/plusbus-your-area might be worth doing.

Worst-case (I've had to do this once I think in probably 100-odd journeys over the years) - if they flat out refuse, buy a single fare (which will be no more than £2 in the vast majority of cases) and reclaim it from the bus company involved via their customer services.

 

[Djgr]

I'm based out of Manchester and have to meet a client in Liverpool this Friday. My company booked me an advanced single ticket with a 'Plus Bus' option that I suppose should allow me to travel between Liverpool Lime Street to a certain destination and then back? How exactly does this work? Is it like a day pass in the area that it covers or does it allow me to only take buses from Liverpool Queen Bus Station and back to it? Any help would be appreciated.

It might have been cheaper and less confrontational to have you pick up a Saveaway, depending on your planned journeys.

 

[Adam Williams]

The best solution to this acceptance problem is encouraging more use of PlusBus and giving it greater visibility/publicity as a scheme. There is more work retailers can do here.

The E-Ticketability trial is work in the right direction, it needs to be rolled out and expanded with proper scanning support as soon as possible. PlusBus prices also probably need adjusting en-masse if the Govt bus subsidy is going to remain in place.

I believe Traveline have gone out to tender for an improved/consolidated web presence, which is also great to see.

 

[Watershed]

Mod note: discussion of what can/will/should happen in the event of PlusBus tickets not being accepted has been moved to this thread in the Disputes & Prosecutions section.

Please keep this thread on the topic of how PlusBus works. Thank you!