Plusbus - knowledge of bus driver?

[Wolfie]

That is not the case, almost all of the railcard discounted PlusBus tickets I've bought have been bought separately from the rail ticket, and usually with a different discount on the rail ticket as Priv isn't available on PlusBus.

Interesting and contrary to what LNWR told me. I will probe further, TY.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 Nov 2022 ==

I’ve got railcard discounts on them when I’ve purchased them separately. I don’t think there’s anything in the rules preventing it.

TY

 

[Dave W]

Dave there was a time a while ago where Metro was saying the Plusbus wasn't valid despite the Plusbus website saying otherwise. Has that now been sorted? Your comments suggest that it has but confirmation would be useful. TY.

Ah to recently I can't say - but I did use it pre pandemic.

As an aside, why in God's name would anyone want to go to the hellhole that is the Hawthorns??? Particularly as heaven is only nine miles away...... lol

Had a feeling you might be along to say that

 

[ServerHoster]

Dave there was a time a while ago where Metro was saying the Plusbus wasn't valid despite the Plusbus website saying otherwise. Has that now been sorted? Your comments suggest that it has but confirmation would be useful. TY.

I did once use a PlusBus on the West Midlands Metro, the inspector did a double take and said something along the lines of "... does that say plus tram or plus bus? ... this isn't a bus." I had to show the Twitter message I sent to WMM asking if a PlusBus was valid.

 

[CyrusWuff]

A trivia point. I read somewhere that Reading had the highest Plusbus use.
As an English concession pass holder I don't use Plusbus much, only for journeys out of England and for cities where they're valid on trams, such as Nottingham. I think they're a great concept, and it's disappointing to hear of such low use.

There are various reasons for the low usage, such as: More and more people buying tickets online or at TVMs rather than Ticket Offices, Ticket Office training not including PlusBus (and other bus links) so staff don't think to proactively offer it, and the wholesale removal of "lesser used" locations (particularly in the larger areas like Greater Manchester, the West Midlands and West Yorkshire) to free up space meaning you have to issue the PlusBus ticket from an alternative location (e.g. Birmingham Stations instead of Tyseley.)

 

[Wolfie]

Had a feeling you might be along to say that

Certain things are eminently predictable lol....

Will probe Metro availablity further.

 

[Haywain]

Will probe Metro availablity further.

It’s valid to use on the trams and has been for years. No probing required.

 

[Wolfie]

It’s valid to use on the trams and has been for years. No probing required.

In principle l agree with you but....

West Midlands Plus Bus use on Midland Metro trams

I've used this ticket several times over the years - it's very cheap and covers a wide area- but on a recent trip I was informed at Birmingham Moor Street station that it was no longer valid on tram services. I was offered instead a Day Tripper ticket costing £6.70. I declined this and purchased...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[317 forever]

When I stayed at that hotel, Cardiff Bus were absolutely fine with Plusbus, but I was refused by Stagecoach.

Stagecoach should accept Cardiff Bus Plus, provided you are still in the relevant area.

PlusBus Cardiff / Caerdydd PlusBus

With a Cardiff / Caerdydd PlusBus ticket, you can enjoy unlimited bus travel across the local area on all participating operators' services

www.plusbus.info

Participating operators:​

Cardiff Bus, Newport Buses, Stagecoach, First, Easyway, New Adventure Travel.

 

[Mattuk]

The fun thing about my university's local bus service is that the Hatfield (herts) plus bus scheme with a rail card is only £1.95. which is strange as the university's own bus company Uno charges students £1.40 one way, £2.50 return or £1.15 when bought as a bundle of 10 in the app from the station to the campus and doesn't include travel on other operators like Arriva. Sadly (or fortunately for those in the know) I've never seen other students using the PlusBus ticket, which might be what keeping the prices the same.

Oh and I have only been questioned by a bus driver on Uno once which was solved by a quick radio call to the depot.

And for Oxford, the price is the same as the multi-operator Smartzone ticket at £4.50, but using the railcard can enable me to get the discounted £2.95 Smartzone equivalent which is nice. I have also been questioned by a bus driver in Oxford once, and even showed him my railcard before he is satisfied.

 

[Kumquat]

Legoland has an inclusive ticket from London, including rail travel, a shuttle bus and entry. The shuttle bus is not covered by PlusBus so buying one wouldn't help.

The inclusive tickets are fairly useless, given almost everyone gets some 2for1 deal for Legoland entry (eg the one valid with any train ticket...) They were much more expensive than getting 2for1 entry plus train to Windsor with a Railcard. I believe the shuttle bus is just one of the two standard bus routes.

I've now checked and you are correct that the Windsor Plusbus doesn't cover a journey to Legoland, but I've been sold it (a few years ago now) with a ticket to Windsor when saying I wanted to go to Legoland! As have other people I know.

I suspect local bus drivers who have to deal with tourists all day are beyond caring, and just accept anything that looks like a ticket to anywhere!

One time I went and return transport was carnage thanks to a traffic accident. Finally got a bus back to Windsor, only it was the express which only has one stop in Windsor, not two. Missed the stop. The driver offered to drop me in Slough but accepted that would be cruelty to my small child, and refused to take payment for taking us all the way back to London.

 

[Benjwri]

I had exactly the same thing happen to me when trying to board a First Bus at Rochdale Bus Station using a Manchester Wayfarer ticket. The driver insisted that it was a rail ticket and would accept no explanation from me that it was valid.

Quite surprised by all these stories of FirstBus declining tickets. At least around me it’s a lottery if they even make you pay at all. At least half the buses I go on the driver just holds their hand over the reader and lets you on for free.

I’ve seen people get on with far more dubious proof of tickets and reasons than a plus bus tickets.

 

[Simon75]

Quite surprised by all these stories of FirstBus declining tickets. At least around me it’s a lottery if they even make you pay at all. At least half the buses I go on the driver just holds their hand over the reader and lets you on for free.

I’ve seen people get on with far more dubious proof of tickets and reasons than a plus bus tickets.

I've used them on First Potteries buses, with no issues (apart for the odd look)

 

[Mugby]

I've used the Potteries one several times without any problems, both on First Potteries and D&G.

If you get off a train at Stoke Station and want to go into the city centre (Hanley) and back again, it's a saving over what two singles would be.
However, I usually get a few other journeys out of it, such as going via Newcastle or Longton - or Stoke itself (which is quite a revelation!)

 

[markymark2000]

I had a Birmingham Plusbus and I was refused travel on Let's Go as it said 'Birmingham'. Birmingham plusbus is actually a PTE wide ticket covering the whole of the west midlands. I emailed into Plusbus 2 months ago, I'm yet to receive a reply and doubt I will.


Sadly, my opinions on Plusbus are, until someone with half a braincell takes charge and steers it forward, nothing will change. Conversations with Plusbus previously have literally been them blaming everyone else for their problems. Not being more modern and digital, they blame train operators. Stupid prices, they blame bus operators. Plusbus literally are the middleman yet they refuse to take responsibility for anything and that is why things have gotten where they have. Plusbus claim that it's 'cost prohibitive' for train operators to offer digital plusbus. 99% of their problems could be solved easily but they are too busy burying their heads into the sand than getting up and doing some damn work to improve it's use. I mean, half of their website has errors with bus operators (including operators which have ceased or not including operators who do accept plusbus), Ticket prices in some areas are down right stupid, as has been pointed out by others, cheaper tickets are available from PTEs. You've got a lack of awareness of the ticket amongst drivers because the borders are stupid. A point blank ignorance to working with wider multi operator ticket bus tickets to make things easier for passengers and operators (Replace all Plusbus in North Wales with a Plusbus 1Bws for example).

We're in a time now with Ticketer who offers QR codes which can be used across companies. North Wales 1Bws, the QR code scans on every single bus operator. Staffordshire The Knot, scans through various operators within the specified zone. With these huge advancements in technology being used already across the country, how hard is it for this code to be printed onto train ticket, especially where it's 'bog roll' tickets. Even stepping back slightly, ignore the train ticket sales. Sell these tickets on the bus upon presentation of a valid rail ticket. There you go. boof.

Plusbus was formerly ran by the Confederation of Passenger Transport. A trade body which represents the bus operators. Is it not in bus operators interests to get more people onto buses and promote multi modal travel? Clearly not. Now it's ran by Traveline and they are no better now. A firm which gets pumped with public money yet hides away from public contact and scrutiny. Doesn't care about endless wrong information on their databases because their incompetent staff can't do basic data entry into the database. I'm under 30 and I will be dead by the time Plusbus get their act together.

I think there needs to be a national overhaul of bus ticketing to simplify it and make it easier to be automatically capped and charged the right amount. There are now several capping schemes that work differently, making it ever more complicated when traveling. Single tickets tend to be expensive, but annual reasonably cheap. Why can't I pay a set amount monthly or annually and be able to travel anywhere in the country? I think this would be a key thing if we as a country are to discourage car use.

There are many pain points with plusbus:
* Variability of coverage
* Long list of exceptions that you have to study for each area, and inconsistency
* Having to switch to local ticketing if staying for a few days rather than being able to continue to use plusbus at day a higher rate. This can get complicated especially if multiple operators in the area and no cross operator ticketing other than plusbus
* No barcode or smart card ticketing, I suspect this could solve some of the validity issues people have with drivers. It would also open up the option for people buying tickets online and not needing go to a station to get them first. I know it's in the world, but taking too long. Most buses can now read both smart cards and barcodes (Edinburgh's Lothian Buses being a notable exception regarding barcodes)
* Knowing if it's cheaper to buy plusbus or operator tickets - many operators don't provide any details of the cost of single tickets, especially if stages involved, day tickets more likely to be available.
* Drivers not knowing about plusbus schemes intermittently
* Having to know at the point of buying the train tickets whether you'll need the plusbus (granted can show the ticket to a guard or ticket office, but that's a pain and I once had a guard fail to issue the right ticket and the Ipswich ticket office has to issue a different one - Ipswich has an odd additional rail extension ticket that can get you to the town centre or hospital in addition to plusbus).

The people on this forum will persist with issues like this. The general public won't, one bad experience and they'll give up and not try it again. Is it any wonder why public transport use is so low in this country compared to people jumping in their metal boxes on wheels?

The people at the top of Plusbus (formerly CPT and now Traveline) get paid irrespective of how well Plusbus does (due to their roles within the relevant organisation, Plusbus is just a side product) so why should they care. Train operators it makes no difference to them. I don't think that they get any more money for them so they don't care (Train operators don't even promote local multi modal tickets which they do benefit from like System One in Manchester so we've no hope for a ticket they won't benefit from), the big bus operators (some exceptions) no longer care, they are too busy running down the networks and begging for more money to prop up their overpaid, failing management. If all 3 areas of business affected don't care, it's only the passengers who suffer. We're just little people to them. Meaningless little people.

Just had a look at the PlusBus website, it's a bit of a time warp, design wise.

The whole scheme is like that.

Dave there was a time a while ago where Metro was saying the Plusbus wasn't valid despite the Plusbus website saying otherwise. Has that now been sorted? Your comments suggest that it has but confirmation would be useful. TY.

I've used Plusbus on the Metro twice in September and it was accepted both times without question.

The most significant example in Merseyside being for Railcard holders aged 16, 17 or 18 - who can get a MyTicket (unlimited bus travel across all of Merseyside and Halton) for 55p less than a PlusBus - or if travelling at the weekend or after 9:30am can get either a One Area Saveaway (unlimited bus and rail travel in the same area as a PlusBus) for 30p less or an All Area Saveaway (unlimited bus, rail and ferry travel across all of Merseyside, plus use of the parts of the Merseyrail network outside Merseyside) for 15p more.

I've raised a number of these issues with Plusbus before. They just say that they will put it to the operators as it's the operators who set the prices. They don't give a hoot though.

 

[asb]

There are various reasons for the low usage, such as: More and more people buying tickets online or at TVMs rather than Ticket Offices, Ticket Office training not including PlusBus (and other bus links) so staff don't think to proactively offer it, and the wholesale removal of "lesser used" locations (particularly in the larger areas like Greater Manchester, the West Midlands and West Yorkshire) to free up space meaning you have to issue the PlusBus ticket from an alternative location (e.g. Birmingham Stations instead of Tyseley.)

I used to work at London Victoria ticket office, in the era before PlusBus existed in its current form, but there was a similar RailBus ticket for Brighton. When I first started I was enthusiastic and offered it as an add on to everyone, but found that the inevitable first question back was "do I need to use the bus?", which is tricky to answer quickly. Instead of being able to sell a day return in 30 seconds flat it took about 3 minutes - I couldn't justify to myself (let alone my supervisor) the reduction in sales as the queues were basically 15 deep all day. Proactive offering by ticket office staff sounds good but has consequences!

 

[nw1]

I've used PlusBus a few times to access Wilton, near Salisbury.

Never had a problem on any occasion.

 

[Soundwave]

I had a Birmingham Plusbus and I was refused travel on Let's Go as it said 'Birmingham'. Birmingham plusbus is actually a PTE wide ticket covering the whole of the west midlands. I emailed into Plusbus 2 months ago, I'm yet to receive a reply and doubt I will.


Sadly, my opinions on Plusbus are, until someone with half a braincell takes charge and steers it forward, nothing will change. Conversations with Plusbus previously have literally been them blaming everyone else for their problems. Not being more modern and digital, they blame train operators. Stupid prices, they blame bus operators. Plusbus literally are the middleman yet they refuse to take responsibility for anything and that is why things have gotten where they have. Plusbus claim that it's 'cost prohibitive' for train operators to offer digital plusbus. 99% of their problems could be solved easily but they are too busy burying their heads into the sand than getting up and doing some damn work to improve it's use. I mean, half of their website has errors with bus operators (including operators which have ceased or not including operators who do accept plusbus), Ticket prices in some areas are down right stupid, as has been pointed out by others, cheaper tickets are available from PTEs. You've got a lack of awareness of the ticket amongst drivers because the borders are stupid. A point blank ignorance to working with wider multi operator ticket bus tickets to make things easier for passengers and operators (Replace all Plusbus in North Wales with a Plusbus 1Bws for example).

We're in a time now with Ticketer who offers QR codes which can be used across companies. North Wales 1Bws, the QR code scans on every single bus operator. Staffordshire The Knot, scans through various operators within the specified zone. With these huge advancements in technology being used already across the country, how hard is it for this code to be printed onto train ticket, especially where it's 'bog roll' tickets. Even stepping back slightly, ignore the train ticket sales. Sell these tickets on the bus upon presentation of a valid rail ticket. There you go. boof.

Plusbus was formerly ran by the Confederation of Passenger Transport. A trade body which represents the bus operators. Is it not in bus operators interests to get more people onto buses and promote multi modal travel? Clearly not. Now it's ran by Traveline and they are no better now. A firm which gets pumped with public money yet hides away from public contact and scrutiny. Doesn't care about endless wrong information on their databases because their incompetent staff can't do basic data entry into the database. I'm under 30 and I will be dead by the time Plusbus get their act together.


The people at the top of Plusbus (formerly CPT and now Traveline) get paid irrespective of how well Plusbus does (due to their roles within the relevant organisation, Plusbus is just a side product) so why should they care. Train operators it makes no difference to them. I don't think that they get any more money for them so they don't care (Train operators don't even promote local multi modal tickets which they do benefit from like System One in Manchester so we've no hope for a ticket they won't benefit from), the big bus operators (some exceptions) no longer care, they are too busy running down the networks and begging for more money to prop up their overpaid, failing management. If all 3 areas of business affected don't care, it's only the passengers who suffer. We're just little people to them. Meaningless little people.


The whole scheme is like that.


I've used Plusbus on the Metro twice in September and it was accepted both times without question.


I've raised a number of these issues with Plusbus before. They just say that they will put it to the operators as it's the operators who set the prices. They don't give a hoot though.

I have to agree with this. The actual scheme is brilliant. However, the implementation of it is abysmal.

If West Yorkshire Metro can design an app which can be used to buy and scan bus and train tickets within geographical boundaries, then elsewhere can as well.

It just requires some will (and cash)

 

[RT4038]

I had a Birmingham Plusbus and I was refused travel on Let's Go as it said 'Birmingham'. Birmingham plusbus is actually a PTE wide ticket covering the whole of the west midlands. I emailed into Plusbus 2 months ago, I'm yet to receive a reply and doubt I will.


Sadly, my opinions on Plusbus are, until someone with half a braincell takes charge and steers it forward, nothing will change. Conversations with Plusbus previously have literally been them blaming everyone else for their problems. Not being more modern and digital, they blame train operators. Stupid prices, they blame bus operators. Plusbus literally are the middleman yet they refuse to take responsibility for anything and that is why things have gotten where they have. Plusbus claim that it's 'cost prohibitive' for train operators to offer digital plusbus. 99% of their problems could be solved easily but they are too busy burying their heads into the sand than getting up and doing some damn work to improve it's use. I mean, half of their website has errors with bus operators (including operators which have ceased or not including operators who do accept plusbus), Ticket prices in some areas are down right stupid, as has been pointed out by others, cheaper tickets are available from PTEs. You've got a lack of awareness of the ticket amongst drivers because the borders are stupid. A point blank ignorance to working with wider multi operator ticket bus tickets to make things easier for passengers and operators (Replace all Plusbus in North Wales with a Plusbus 1Bws for example).

We're in a time now with Ticketer who offers QR codes which can be used across companies. North Wales 1Bws, the QR code scans on every single bus operator. Staffordshire The Knot, scans through various operators within the specified zone. With these huge advancements in technology being used already across the country, how hard is it for this code to be printed onto train ticket, especially where it's 'bog roll' tickets. Even stepping back slightly, ignore the train ticket sales. Sell these tickets on the bus upon presentation of a valid rail ticket. There you go. boof.

Plusbus was formerly ran by the Confederation of Passenger Transport. A trade body which represents the bus operators. Is it not in bus operators interests to get more people onto buses and promote multi modal travel? Clearly not. Now it's ran by Traveline and they are no better now. A firm which gets pumped with public money yet hides away from public contact and scrutiny. Doesn't care about endless wrong information on their databases because their incompetent staff can't do basic data entry into the database. I'm under 30 and I will be dead by the time Plusbus get their act together.


The people at the top of Plusbus (formerly CPT and now Traveline) get paid irrespective of how well Plusbus does (due to their roles within the relevant organisation, Plusbus is just a side product) so why should they care. Train operators it makes no difference to them. I don't think that they get any more money for them so they don't care (Train operators don't even promote local multi modal tickets which they do benefit from like System One in Manchester so we've no hope for a ticket they won't benefit from), the big bus operators (some exceptions) no longer care, they are too busy running down the networks and begging for more money to prop up their overpaid, failing management. If all 3 areas of business affected don't care, it's only the passengers who suffer. We're just little people to them. Meaningless little people.


The whole scheme is like that.


I've used Plusbus on the Metro twice in September and it was accepted both times without question.


I've raised a number of these issues with Plusbus before. They just say that they will put it to the operators as it's the operators who set the prices. They don't give a hoot though.

You are making too many assumptions here.

The bus industry was pretty much forced to accept the Plusbus ticket. They did not want it in the financial form that it is. The issue is that bus operators are taking the scalp on their fares (especially if railcard discounts are applied), and the rail industry is taking none. Bus operators do not want their own fare products to be undercut by Plusbus - they do not want to lose current revenue from passengers buying a separate bus fare then a separate rail fare, or at worst they want an equitable balance between the two. It may well be argued that cheaper fares may encourage more use, but so would this apply to the rail ticket too. So why would these so called overpaid failing management want to spend scarce resources on such a complex scheme which appears to mainly benefit the rail industry and rail passengers and likely undermine their own finances? Passengers can just as well buy two tickets. They have had enough of having to put up with giving away their product at discounted rates for the greater good (think ENCTS scheme as well). Giving passengers cheaper rides is not their priority.

Multi-modal ticketing is not going to get anywhere apart from token gestures such as an imperfect Plusbus scheme until the finances of the bus industry are put on the same footing as the finances of the rail industry from the same budget. And that is not looking good at the moment.

 

[Haywain]

Multi-modal ticketing is not going to get anywhere apart from token gestures such as an imperfect Plusbus scheme until the finances of the bus industry are put on the same footing as the finances of the rail industry from the same budget. And that is not looking good at the moment.

The bus industry would be delighted to receive greater subsidy but not so keen on giving up profitable routes. And that’s what would be required to put them on the same footing.

 

[RT4038]

The bus industry would be delighted to receive greater subsidy but not so keen on giving up profitable routes. And that’s what would be required to put them on the same footing.

Part of that footing will have to be that the concept of commercial and subsidised services will have to disappear (as indeed it gradually is in many areas). We are not quite there yet though.

 

[Flying Snail]

The bus industry would be delighted to receive greater subsidy but not so keen on giving up profitable routes. And that’s what would be required to put them on the same footing.

That was certainly the way it was pre-covid, at this point I'd imagine far fewer operators pushing back against a reduced revenue risk in return for guaranteed income for their full network.

The number of cash-cow routes still existing must be a fraction of only a few years ago.

 

[RT4038]

That was certainly the way it was pre-covid, at this point I'd imagine far fewer operators pushing back against a reduced revenue risk in return for guaranteed income for their full network.

The number of cash-cow routes still existing must be a fraction of only a few years ago.

Quite. But the issue does not end there, because LAs are responsible for bus route financing, whereas Central Govt. is railways. LAs are also going to be keen on maximising their revenue. This is why I say that comprehensive multi modal ticketing is still some way off until the public transport revenue pot is controlled by the same Authority, who will then wish to maximise PT revenues rather than an individual mode.

 

[nw1]

Quite. But the issue does not end there, because LAs are responsible for bus route financing, whereas Central Govt. is railways. LAs are also going to be keen on maximising their revenue. This is why I say that comprehensive multi modal ticketing is still some way off until the public transport revenue pot is controlled by the same Authority, who will then wish to maximise PT revenues rather than an individual mode.

And I think it needs to be, but I doubt there is any will to do that whatsoever from the current government.

Personally I am someone who would benefit significantly from mixed-mode tickets, as I use both bus and train, and for many journeys using a combination of both is by far the most time-effective way to do the journey - but currently this can be very expensive indeed for the total distance travelled. For example, it is (last time I looked) significantly cheaper to reach Eastbourne on public transport with a Network Railcard from south Hampshire than the much nearer Isle of Purbeck. But unless you get a government who are very strongly pro-public-transport, it probably isn't going to happen. The current economic hard times don't help, either. Perhaps things will improve in a few years with a change of government and a better economic outlook.

 

[Siemens Trains]

Only really used them in Edinburgh. Had no bother until the last time I tried to use when the driver refused.

I had a Lothian Buses driver take a PlusBus ticket from me, only to grip it with both hands and stare at it for about three minutes without saying anything (you'd honestly think I'd just boarded the bus with a handgun and handed him a piece of paper saying "give me the takings and I won't shoot you"), then handed it back saying "yes, that's fine" in a pleasant tone of voice. Up there with the most peculiar interactions I've ever had with a bus driver.

I'm looking at a trip to Edinburgh next month, the Lothian day ticket is £4.50 I believe, the PlusBus equivalent with railcard discount is £2.50.

Remember PlusBus isn't accepted on some Edinburgh routes that might take normal day tickets or Ridacards. Notable exclusions are East Coast and Lothian Country services - occasionally vehicles in normal livery are drafted in to cover on these routes so visitors should check their Edinburgh PlusBus validity carefully.
More obviously travel in the airport area isn't allowed either.

 

[185]

Some years ago, we boarded a bus from Upton into Chester, showed the Chester Plusbus, and the Rock Ferry based driver said "they ain't valid on here, this is a Merseyside bus"

Needless to say we paid for two singles to Chester.. and got the money back a day later. Excellent local manager at Rock Ferry at the time, former colleague of mine.

There's one plonker in every depot.

 

[route101]

Remember PlusBus isn't accepted on some Edinburgh routes that might take normal day tickets or Ridacards. Notable exclusions are East Coast and Lothian Country services - occasionally vehicles in normal livery are drafted in to cover on these routes so visitors should check their Edinburgh PlusBus validity carefully.
More obviously travel in the airport area isn't allowed either.

I have used the Plus bus to Ingilston Park and Ride and on East Coast/Lothian Country services without issue.

 

[Siemens Trains]

I have used the Plus bus to Ingilston Park and Ride and on East Coast/Lothian Country services without issue.

Think this must be the first post on the thread reporting a case of PlusBus tickets being accepted when they shouldn't rather than the other way round!

 

[Tester]

Think this must be the first post on the thread reporting a case of PlusBus tickets being accepted when they shouldn't rather than the other way round!

Those are all within Plusbus validity (of course provided within the Plusbus area).

 

[Siemens Trains]

Those are all within Plusbus validity (of course provided within the Plusbus area).

Yes, that can tend to confuse passengers because you need to check both the area and the particular service. It's probably beyond what you can expect people to understand. The quote below is taken from the PlusBus website for Edinburgh, highlighting that no Lothian Country or East Coast services should accept tickets regardless of area.
For drivers I imagine most of them don't really bother checking whether passes are valid or not, maybe choosing to verify occasionally when they have time or just at random to deter persistent offenders. As mentioned previously any drivers trained on PlusBus have probably forgotten the details due to passage of time or just very seldom seeing examples. Of course from the passenger's perspective if they've initially had a ticket incorrectly accepted on one occasion they'll take offence if informed on a later journey that it isn't valid and assume the second driver is at fault.

PlusBus Edinburgh PlusBus

With an Edinburgh PlusBus ticket, you can enjoy unlimited bus travel across the local area on all participating operators' services

www.plusbus.info

Participating operators:​

Lothian Buses, Edinburgh Trams, First, Stagecoach, Edinburgh Coach Lines.
Travel on the Edinburgh tram is available between any stop in the city and up to Ingliston 'Park&Ride'.
Click on the operate names to view route maps and timetables.

Excluded Services (of participating operators):​

Edinburgh Trams: between Ingliston & Edinburgh Airport. Lothian Buses: any part of Airlink 100; Skylink 200 & 300 between Ingliston & Edinburgh Airport. Special services, NightBus Services, Lothian Country, East Coast Buses & Edinburgh Bus Tours.

 

[WAB]

Using a PlusBus ticket normally requires a great deal of confidence and a willingness not to back down when confronted with drivers not applying fares policy. As someone who is a regular user of PlusBus around the country, a threat to pull up the PlusBus website usually works, although I have sometimes had to tell them to call their inspector or simply refuse to get up, at which point they always fold. Not something we should be expecting ordinary passengers to do.