PlusBus Tickets

[Hadders]

PB themselves have also confirmed to me that it’s permitted to print off the e-ticket and use that on the bus, which of course is not permitted for train tickets.

Who's said you can't print off an e-ticket for use on a train?

 

[ngood77]

Who's said you can't print off an e-ticket for use on a train?

I do apologise, I thought I’d read it somewhere but clearly I had a funny moment. I take it back.

 

[James H]

PB themselves have also confirmed to me that it’s permitted to print off the e-ticket and use that on the bus, which of course is not permitted for train tickets

It’s absolutely permitted to print a rail e ticket. It’s mtickets that you can’t print.

 

[ngood77]

It’s absolutely permitted to print a rail e ticket. It’s mtickets that you can’t print.

Yeah, as I’ve said

 

[kkong]

My PlusBus did scan correctly today from Google Wallet without disabling NFC on the phone.

This was with the PlusBus as the first of two passes in the bundle.

Confirmed with a second successful scan of the same PlusBus today in Google Wallet.

In neither case did I tap the pass again to bring up the full screen Aztec code.

These are the first two times I've ever had this work.

So something is up...

 

[Fiyero]

I used Stagecoach South, Brighton & Hove and Stagecoach South East today. I didn't see a ticket issued for any child fare, they were just waved on and recorded on the ticket machine.

To report back, 3 buses in Portsmouth, the first issued a ticket, the second and third just pressed a button. None had an issue with the mix of plus bus and free child

 

[Bungle965]

Not a positive experience in Colchester today, driver on the Park and Ride service adamant he didn't accept PlusBus so ended up having to purchase a new ticket.

I imagine if it had been an E-Ticket there wouldn't have been any issues, however for whatever reason Colchester Town ticket office issued it me as a CCST!

 

[Wolfie]

Not a positive experience in Colchester today, driver on the Park and Ride service adamant he didn't accept PlusBus so ended up having to purchase a new ticket.

I imagine if it had been an E-Ticket there wouldn't have been any issues, however for whatever reason Colchester Town ticket office issued it me as a CCST!

Arriva Telford are poor for that - despite having "Plusbus welcome" stickers on every single driver's cab door...

No better at responding to correspondence.

 

[Edvid]

Went to Luton Airport this evening and it turns out the TVMs there don't offer PlusBus tickets, so I bought one from the onward travel desk.

No idea if TPE's TVMs (same model) have the same issue.

Not a positive experience in Colchester today, driver on the Park and Ride service adamant he didn't accept PlusBus so ended up having to purchase a new ticket.

Out of interest who should ticketing complaints be addressed to - the operator (changing from Arriva to Stephensons on 26 September) or Essex County Council?

Curiously the Colchester zone has been drawn as not including the P&R site itself. Not necessarily relevant to your journey (if even correct) but that seems a bit odd to me.

I imagine if it had been an E-Ticket there wouldn't have been any issues, however for whatever reason Colchester Town ticket office issued it me as a CCST!

Interesting. Going by the "CCST Rovers where?" thread I thought Greater Anglia ticket offices were using PRT-default Worldline (as was) now.

 

[Bungle965]

Out of interest who should ticketing complaints be addressed to - the operator (changing from Arriva to Stephensons on 26 September) or Essex County Council?

Curiously the Colchester zone has been drawn as not including the P&R site itself. Not necessarily relevant to your journey (if even correct) but that seems a bit odd to me

I have sent my complaint off to Arriva, if the PR service was excluded then it really should be listed as so on the PlusBus website (there are plenty of examples of where this is the case)

I only noticed after sitting down but of course there was a big sign on the drivers door pointing to PlusBus!

 

[tram21]

Fort William- e-ticket didn't scan on Shiel Buses (the only operator in the scheme in the area) but the driver let me on without any quibble.

 

[ns274]

I had a dispute with Stagecoach about using Cambridge North +Bus at St Ives (apparently Cambridge North +Bus is slightly more expensive than Cambridge +Bus due to additional validity on the guided busway). One driver didn't accept it claiming it's too cheap, but luckily the next one accepted it without any issues.

I complained to Stagecoach and their response is worth a laugh:

Unfortunately the information I have is that the driver had every right to do so as we don't accept these tickets. As this ticket was not bought on the stagecoach app it is not a valid ticket. I apologise about this.

 

[Watershed]

I had a dispute with Stagecoach about using Cambridge North +Bus at St Ives (apparently Cambridge North +Bus is slightly more expensive than Cambridge +Bus due to additional validity on the guided busway). One driver didn't accept it claiming it's too cheap, but luckily the next one accepted it without any issues.

I complained to Stagecoach and their response is worth a laugh:

What an appalling response. I'd ask them if this is their final response so you can take it to Bus Users UK which is the 'ombudsman' equivalent for the bus industry.

 

[tram21]

I had a dispute with Stagecoach about using Cambridge North +Bus at St Ives (apparently Cambridge North +Bus is slightly more expensive than Cambridge +Bus due to additional validity on the guided busway). One driver didn't accept it claiming it's too cheap, but luckily the next one accepted it without any issues.

I complained to Stagecoach and their response is worth a laugh:

That's awful

Keep us updated with any progress!

 

[MikeWM]

Well, it's now September, and Ely PlusBus still seems to be available to buy, though there are precisely zero buses it can now be used on! Hopefully some agreement can eventually be found with A2B and/or Stephensons to take PlusBus, but I can't imagine it is a priority.

One year later and the Ely PlusBus is still literally useless (and still apparently on sale!) with zero buses it can be used on, at least if the plusbus website is to be believed, as that still says the only operator it can be used on is Stagecoach East, who haven't run any buses in Ely for over a year now.

 

[Bungle965]

One year later and the Ely PlusBus is still literally useless (and still apparently on sale!) with zero buses it can be used on, at least if the plusbus website is to be believed, as that still says the only operator it can be used on is Stagecoach East, who haven't run any buses in Ely for over a year now.

I'd recommend emailing PlusBus and seeing if you get a response:
PlusBus@traveline.info

It may be that it simply hasn't been picked up on!

 

[markymark2000]

One year later and the Ely PlusBus is still literally useless (and still apparently on sale!) with zero buses it can be used on, at least if the plusbus website is to be believed, as that still says the only operator it can be used on is Stagecoach East, who haven't run any buses in Ely for over a year now.

Stephensons are meant to accept Plusbus in all other zones so I presume they accept in this zone but it's just not been updated.

 

[davp]

I'd recommend emailing PlusBus and seeing if you get a response:
PlusBus@traveline.info

It may be that it simply hasn't been picked up on!

I did that about the Livingston and Bathgate one. Lothian Country don't participate. There are a handful of services a day it is valid on with Midland Bluebird. None of them are close to Livingston stations. I was told that McGills led with PlusBus in this area and they would pass on my comments. A year on and nothing has changed.

 

[smsm1]

I did that about the Livingston and Bathgate one. Lothian Country don't participate. There are a handful of services a day it is valid on with Midland Bluebird. None of them are close to Livingston stations. I was told that McGills led with PlusBus in this area and they would pass on my comments. A year on and nothing has changed.

Historically First were the main operator in Livingston and then McGill's using the Midland Bluebird brand bought the operation, however they left Livingston and most of West Lothian.

Is there a process to change the operator that leads an area when the majority operator changes as has happened here?

 

[Edvid]

I'd recommend emailing PlusBus and seeing if you get a response:
PlusBus@traveline.info

Did that about 3 months ago, mentioned SE's withdrawal and the current trio of regulars (A2B / Dews / SoE). They said they'd confirm with the Local Scheme Coordinator and update accordingly...

 

[kkong]

Yes, my experience with contacting PlusBus is similar.

If you are fortunate enough to receive a reply, they say they'll pass it on to the local scheme co-ordinator, then nothing is heard back and nothing is changed.

 

[MikeWM]

Stephensons are meant to accept Plusbus in all other zones so I presume they accept in this zone but it's just not been updated.

Yes, looking the operators list for various other Plusbus locations I imagine Stephensons are included. Less clear to me is a2b or Dews.

There's still very little use for it anyway without a somewhat expanded area taking in some of the nearby villages, but I suppose if these operators are included you can occasionally travel from Angel Drove Tesco to/from the city centre on the 9/112/Zip services, and around (some, though not the Little Downham part) of the route of the circular 10, which I guess could be useful for a few people.

 

[markymark2000]

they would pass on my comments. A year on and nothing has changed.

Did that about 3 months ago, mentioned SE's withdrawal and the current trio of regulars (A2B / Dews / SoE). They said they'd confirm with the Local Scheme Coordinator and update accordingly...

Yes, my experience with contacting PlusBus is similar.

If you are fortunate enough to receive a reply, they say they'll pass it on to the local scheme co-ordinator, then nothing is heard back and nothing is changed.

It's an extremely common thing for Plusbus/Traveline to ignore emails or reply with sloppy false promises about getting things fixed. Masters at kicking the can down the road or pointing the finger, and often forget that they are the custodians and therefore the buck for the endless misinformation that they have on their website, lies with them. It's not just Plusbus they do this on though, they are the same with Traveline data with zero care or ambition to improve data quality.