Cashless bus services.

[stadler]

The rip off hotel bus routes (GH1 and GH2) at Gatwick Airport run by BM Coaches have just gone fully cashless. They accept contactless only now.

It seems a very odd decision as an airport is likely to be one of the top places where people will not have contactless. So lots of people will be turned away.

London Buses still has some other options (although most are more expensive) for cash payers like buying a paper Travelcard ticket at a railway station or buying an Oyster Card or Bus & Tram Pass at a newsagents. But here there are zero alternative payment methods for the hotel buses.

It is actually not the biggest issue here as the buses are a massive rip off anyway. They charge £4.50 Single or £8.00 Return for a tiny distance. All of these hotels are also served by the local Metrobus routes that run frequently 24/7 for a much cheaper £1.70 fare. Also the local Metrobus routes are more frequent and normally quicker too as you do not have to wait for them to serve dozens of others hotels before yours. So anyone without contactless will not really be disadvantaged as the alternative cash accepting buses are much cheaper and more frequent and quicker. It may be one of the only examples of cash users being at an advantage by a cashless service as it will make them aware of the cheaper and better option.

But this has me wondering whether this is the second bus operation in the UK to go cashless? Is anyone aware of any other bus operators or bus routes (other than TFL on the London Buses obviously) anywhere in the UK that have also gone cashless?

I think that short lived Citymapper route CM2 bus in London was also cashless? But other than that i am struggling to think of any others?

 

[signed]

It seems a very odd decision as an airport is likely to be one of the top places where people will not have contactless. So lots of people will be turned away.

I believe you can buy hoppa tickets online

 

[The exile]

It seems a very odd decision as an airport is likely to be one of the top places where people will not have contactless. So lots of people will be turned away.

Ironically (since I am a supporter of cash), I should have thought an international airport is probably among the candidates for place where people are most likely not to have (the right country’s) cash.

 

[Dai Corner]

Also the local Metrobus routes are more frequent and normally quicker too as you do not have to wait for them to serve dozens of others hotels before yours.

Do the local Metrobuses pick you up and drop you off at the door of your hotel? That's a service someone with heavy luggage might pay a premium for, especially if it's cheaper than a taxi.

 

[scotrail158713]

Ember don’t accept cash. They accept contactless onboard however buying online in advance is strongly encouraged.

 

[Bletchleyite]

It seems a very odd decision as an airport is likely to be one of the top places where people will not have contactless. So lots of people will be turned away.

I would suggest that the proportion of people staying at airport hotels who do not have a credit or debit card (and basically all of them* have contactless now) is going to be 0%, particularly when you take into account Apple/Google Pay as well.

* Unless you've specifically asked for it to be removed, in which case your loss.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 Mar 2025 ==

Ironically (since I am a supporter of cash), I should have thought an international airport is probably among the candidates for place where people are most likely not to have (the right country’s) cash.

Basically all international travellers will have a credit or debit card in 2025, even if it's a prepaid one.

If there are any odd ones who do everything with cash (remember travellers' cheques?) they won't be found at Heathrow, they'll be found at regional charter airports flying with charter airlines on package tours. The proportion of them somewhere like Liverpool or Luton may at least be a couple of per-cent, at Heathrow it'll basically be none.

 

[sprunt]

It seems a very odd decision as an airport is likely to be one of the top places where people will not have contactless. So lots of people will be turned away.

Presumably the operator will be aware of how many people currently pay with cash, and has decided based on that that they won't lose more income than they'll save on not having to process the cash?

If there are any odd ones who do everything with cash (remember travellers' cheques?) they won't be found at Heathrow

Perhaps, but this thread is about Gatwick

 

[Bletchleyite]

Perhaps, but this thread is about Gatwick

Sorry, Heathrow on the brain with what's going on today. A few of them might be found near Gatwick compared to Heathrow (easyJet flights etc) but I doubt many of them. Generally, people who travel internationally have payment cards.

 

[ALEMASTER]

All TfL bus services are cashless.

 

[SilentWatcher]

Ironically (since I am a supporter of cash), I should have thought an international airport is probably among the candidates for place where people are most likely not to have (the right country’s) cash.

Many travellers will still make the effort to get currency, presumably in a bid to avoid fees for using their cards abroad

 

[The exile]

Many travellers will still make the effort to get currency, presumably in a bid to avoid fees for using their cards abroad

Indeed - but it doesn’t invalidate my point - and increases the likelihood of the bus driver having to sort out change for large notes.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Many travellers will still make the effort to get currency, presumably in a bid to avoid fees for using their cards abroad

If your bank charges you hefty fees for foreign card usage you just need to change your bank (or take one of the more modern forex options like a prepaid currency card which can also be used for payments).

In most countries, carrying large amounts of cash is passe.

 

[Oxfordblues]

I remember cash-only buses. Many of them were "exact fare only" but you only found out how much it was on boarding. Then you'd spend several minutes going through all your change trying get to the total demanded. Once I only had a 50p coin for a 47p fare and the driver refused to accept it as his cash had to match the fares issued.

 

[stadler]

I have just found out that First Bristol has seven cash only routes. The routes M1 M2 M3 M3X M4 U1 U2 take contactless only. I think the Bristol Metrobus are off bus ticketing. But it is not clear why the U1 and U2 in Bristol are cashless. On the U3 in Bristol and on the U1 and U2 and U5 in Bath they still appear to accept cash. But you can still use all of these buses as a cash payer if you first purchase a day ticket on any other First Bristol bus routes.

Guernsey also went cashless when covid started. It is all contactless only now. The only way to pay in cash is at the bus information office. Jersey still accepts cash which makes it seems even more odd. The buses in both Guernsey and Jersey are run by the same bus operator.

So we have at least six cashless bus operations in the UK now:

• BM Coaches (Gatwick Hotel Bus) (GH1 GH2)
• Ember (E1 E3 E3X E10)
• First Bristol (routes M1 M2 M3 M3X M4 U1 U2 only)
• Guernsey Buses (all bus routes)
• London Buses (all TFL routes)
• United Minibuses (Gatwick Hotel Bus) (HB1)

I just hope this list does not start increasing. I do wonder if anyone else will go cashless. My guess would be the devolved London style bus operations like Manchester (Bee Network) and Liverpool (when it starts) etc. But they would have a lot of work to do if they wanted that.

The issue is that nowhere outside of London has any Oyster Card equivalent. People using cash in London still have fairly easy access to an Oyster Card for paying with cash. I would say around 99% of Greater London is within short walking distance of a convenience shop that sells and tops up Oyster Cards with cash or a railway station or tube station ticket machine that sells and tops ups Oyster Cards with cash. But nowhere outside of London has anything like this.

In many other cities they do have smartcards but they are mostly for season tickets. Very few are designed for PAYG like the Oyster Card is. Also they are usually only available online. Being able to purchase a card and top up with cash at a convenience shop or ticket machine is very rare anywhere else. So nowhere else really has an Oyster Card equivalent that allows cash users to still travel.

 

[Davester50]

Many travellers will still make the effort to get currency, presumably in a bid to avoid fees for using their cards abroad

Indeed some will take a days worth in local notes. But not in small denomination notes if you've never been there before.
And some countries have currency that's very difficult to get abroad, even if ordering in advance.

 

[stadler]

I have just seen that United Minibuses at Gatwick Airport who run the other Hotel bus route (HB1) are also cashless. They are contactless only too. This makes me wonder if this was a Gatwick Airport decision? The hotel bus routes are possibly airport contracts so maybe Gatwick Airport instructed both bus operators to stop taking cash?

 

[JKP]

I have just found out that First Bristol has seven cash only routes. The routes M1 M2 M3 M3X M4 U1 U2 take contactless only. I think the Bristol Metrobus are off bus ticketing. But it is not clear why the U1 and U2 in Bristol are cashless. On the U3 in Bristol and on the U1 and U2 and U5 in Bath they still appear to accept cash. But you can still use all of these buses as a cash payer if you first purchase a day ticket on any other First Bristol bus routes.

Guernsey also went cashless when covid started. It is all contactless only now. The only way to pay in cash is at the bus information office. Jersey still accepts cash which makes it seems even more odd. The buses in both Guernsey and Jersey are run by the same bus operator.

So we have at least five cashless bus operations in the UK now:

• BM Coaches Gatwick Hopper (GH1 GH2)
• Ember (E1 E3 E3X E10)
• First Bristol (routes M1 M2 M3 M3X M4 U1 U2 only)
• Guernsey Buses (all bus routes)
• London Buses (all TFL routes)

I just hope this list does not start increasing. I do wonder if anyone else will go cashless. My guess would be the devolved London style bus operations like Manchester (Bee Network) and Liverpool (when it starts) etc. But they would have a lot of work to do if they wanted that.

The issue is that nowhere outside of London has any Oyster Card equivalent. People using cash in London still have fairly easy access to an Oyster Card for paying with cash. I would say around 99% of Greater London is within short walking distance of a convenience shop that sells and tops up Oyster Cards with cash or a railway station or tube station ticket machine that sells and tops ups Oyster Cards with cash. But nowhere outside of London has anything like this.

In many other cities they do have smartcards but they are mostly for season tickets. Very few are designed for PAYG like the Oyster Card is. Also they are usually only available online. Being able to purchase a card and top up with cash at a convenience shop or ticket machine is very rare anywhere else. So nowhere else really has an Oyster Card equivalent that allows cash users to still travel.

The Guernsey and Jersey operations are separate contracts awarded by different States. It is co incidental that they are run by the same company. Stagecoach take over the Guernsey contract next month. Cashless fares will no doubt transfer along with vehicles and staff.

 

[Lewisham2221]

Coach, rather than bus, but I don't think it's possible to use cash to pay for FlixBus tickets? (Unless they have any third-party booking agents?)

 

[JD2168]

Interestingly as some routes have become cashless, Cawthornes routes in Rotherham have been running with paper in the windscreen saying it is Cash Only.

 

[JGurney]

..... the proportion of people staying at airport hotels who do not have a credit or debit card (and basically all of them* have contactless now) is going to be 0%,

Is it? I know little about foreign bank cards, but I seem to keep seeing posts in the TripAdvisor forum about USA and Canadian bank cards not working as contactless here. I have no idea whether that is due to their cards having no contactless function or to having one that does not work here

 

[Deerfold]

All TfL bus services are cashless.

Which the OP mentioned in the first post.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Is it? I know little about foreign bank cards, but I seem to keep seeing posts in the TripAdvisor forum about USA and Canadian bank cards not working as contactless here. I have no idea whether that is due to their cards having no contactless function or to having one that does not work here

If that's a known problem, a prudent tourist obtains a pre-paid currency card. These things are not difficult. Or use Apple/Google Pay which will work because the contactless feature isn't directly linked to the card's contactless feature.

Does anyone ever go anywhere these days without Googling to find out what their onward transport options will be and how they are paid for? The real world of travel isn't Race Across The World - indeed, the whole point of RATW is that it's so different from what travel is actually like now (even if it was perhaps more like that 30 years ago).

 

[stadler]

Coach, rather than bus, but I don't think it's possible to use cash to pay for FlixBus tickets? (Unless they have any third-party booking agents?)

A couple years ago when they launched Flixbus in the UK it was possible to buy tickets with cash from the driver. They had a small handheld machine. In fact they only took cash and had no ability for card or contactless payments. Maybe it has changed since as Flixbus have expanded lots but i can not find anything confirming.

 

[Bletchleyite]

A couple years ago when they launched Flixbus in the UK it was possible to buy tickets with cash from the driver. They had a small handheld machine. In fact they only took cash and had no ability for card or contactless payments. Maybe it has changed since as Flixbus have expanded lots but i can not find anything confirming.

You can pay National Express drivers for a ticket by cash, and I have done it in the past, but I doubt it's common, and some drivers are very reluctant to do it as they have to faff about phoning control to check a seat is available unless it's the last stop before the terminus (it was indeed that situation when I did it, southbound from MK Coachway, as I wanted to get on the next coach rather than try to work out which would actually arrive first with delays and book it).

I'd imagine Flix, being a bargain basement operation, perhaps has a disproportionately high number of customers who may only use cash?

 

[stadler]

You can pay National Express drivers for a ticket by cash, and I have done it in the past, but I doubt it's common, and some drivers are very reluctant to do it as they have to faff about phoning control to check a seat is available unless it's the last stop before the terminus (it was indeed that situation when I did it, southbound from MK Coachway, as I wanted to get on the next coach rather than try to work out which would actually arrive first with delays and book it).

I'd imagine Flix, being a bargain basement operation, perhaps has a disproportionately high number of customers who may only use cash?

Yes i have also purchased cash tickets on National Express coaches quite a few times. When i have done it they never phoned control but i suppose that is only if the coach is busy. If it is a quiet service they probably never bother.

They even have a page on their website where you can see what the onboard cash fares are:

National Express Coaches - Coach Guide Pages

www.nxagents.com

I find that buying onboard cash fares on National Express can be very convenient and good value for local journeys. Hardly anyone uses them for local journeys but they have fares available and they are often cheaper than the local buses. One example is Hickstead to Brighton where the coach actually saves you money compared to a local bus. I have a friend who drives for National Express and says he sometimes gets cash payers from Worthing to Brighton late at night who have fallen asleep on the last train from London to Brighton and ended up in Worthing as they missed their stop.

 

[Lewisham2221]

A couple years ago when they launched Flixbus in the UK it was possible to buy tickets with cash from the driver. They had a small handheld machine. In fact they only took cash and had no ability for card or contactless payments. Maybe it has changed since as Flixbus have expanded lots but i can not find anything confirming.

I'd imagine Flix, being a bargain basement operation, perhaps has a disproportionately high number of customers who may only use cash?

Oh, fair enough! I'd always thought Flix was an online only sort of operation.

 

[johncrossley]

I just hope this list does not start increasing. I do wonder if anyone else will go cashless. My guess would be the devolved London style bus operations like Manchester (Bee Network) and Liverpool (when it starts) etc. But they would have a lot of work to do if they wanted that.

Manchester is a laggard. They only just introduced tap and cap yesterday and even allow you to buy Hopper fares in cash! Obviously loads of operators outside the UK are cashless.

The problem is not people using cash. The problem is people paying the driver, whether by card or cash. London is still cash friendly because the Oyster card can be topped up at thousands of locations in and around the capital. But smartcards are probably past their sell by date so any new operator going cashless would not bother. London will probably scrap the Oyster card in the not too distant future.

 

[JGurney]

If that's a known problem, a prudent tourist obtains a pre-paid currency card. These things are not difficult.

I know of it, but then I read this sort of thing out of interest. I can imagine someone from somewhere where buses only took cash assuming they could always use cash on buses everywhere and not realise that cards could be used on some buses here, let alone might be the only way to pay.

Or use Apple/Google Pay which will work because the contactless feature isn't directly linked to the card's contactless feature.

I suspect plenty of people don't use those simply because they don't need to or don't understand how they work.

Does anyone ever go anywhere these days without Googling to find out what their onward transport options will be and how they are paid for?

It seems so. For example:

- There seem to be people in this country who don't know that London buses are cashless.

- A friend of my wife's went to a station and asked for a ticket to "Fylde" because she wanted to go to a dance event called the 'Fylde Dance Festival': the event was actually in Fleetwood, so it was just as well that she got sold a ticket to Poulton-le-Fylde, where someone directed her into a bus to Fleetwood.

- I gather that foreign tourists enthusiastic about Jane Austen occasionally arrive in Mansfield and ask for directions to the park.

- I met a nun who had been stopped by the police while riding a bicycle along the M3, trying to get from Wokingham to Eastbourne: having spent most of her time in a convent she had no idea what a motorway was.

The real world of travel isn't Race Across The World - indeed, the whole point of RATW is that it's so different from what travel is actually like now (even if it was perhaps more like that 30 years ago).

I've never heard of that, is it a TV programme?

 

[Bletchleyite]

- I gather that foreign tourists enthusiastic about Jane Austen occasionally arrive in Mansfield and ask for directions to the park.

Leeds Castle is the usual one of those, isn't it?

- I met a nun who had been stopped by the police while riding a bicycle along the M3, trying to get from Wokingham to Eastbourne: having spent most of her time in a convent she had no idea what a motorway was.

You can't really legislate for people who have been totally isolated from the outside world for years!

I've never heard of that, is it a TV programme?

Yes, on the BBC if I recall but you can probably also watch it elsewhere. It's quite good.

 

[trainmania100]

I believe you can buy hoppa tickets online

Let's hope visitors to the country also have a good roaming package then, If not a working debit card