• Our new ticketing site is now live! Using either this or the original site (both powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!

PlusBus Tickets

Fiyero

Member
Joined
29 Aug 2010
Messages
351
Location
Eastleigh, Hampshire
I guess TrainPal have found it easier to add this message than to actually disable NFC on the pass!

Image: obscured plusbus e-ticket with the message "Turn off NFC before scanning your train ticket QR code to avoid being charged twice"
 

Attachments

  • Screenshot_20260908-071639~2.jpg
    Screenshot_20260908-071639~2.jpg
    170.9 KB · Views: 96
Last edited:
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R

RailUK Forums

81A

Member
Joined
22 May 2026
Messages
271
Location
GWR land
I guess TrainPal have found it easier to add this message than to actually disabled NFC on the pass!
Normally I'd be surprised at how bad this is, but as it is Trainpal/Trip, it is actually better than I'd expect (they actually bothered to add the message)...
 

signed

Established Member
Joined
13 May 2024
Messages
2,381
Location
ROI
Also wonder what they do on iOS where one cannot simply 'turn off NFC'.
AFAIK:

If the phone detects a card reader, you would get the pop up and the request for FaceID/TouchID, the developer can tell the phone to supress the pop-up.

The main issue being Express Mode (some classes of readers allowing locked payments for transit). It's unclear if the feature works with phone unlocked, but for example, Transit Card on Samsung Wallet only works with screen locked and turned off, if screen is on, it will tell you to open wallet the normal way.
 

OscarH

Established Member
Joined
15 Sep 2020
Messages
1,279
Location
Crawley
AFAIK:

If the phone detects a card reader, you would get the pop up and the request for FaceID/TouchID, the developer can tell the phone to supress the pop-up.

The main issue being Express Mode (some classes of readers allowing locked payments for transit). It's unclear if the feature works with phone unlocked, but for example, Transit Card on Samsung Wallet only works with screen locked and turned off, if screen is on, it will tell you to open wallet the normal way.
Yeah, you can suppress it, but given they've just added a warning instead of actually doing the suppression on Android it's a question of whether they were equally as incompetent on iOS
 

Class172

Established Member
Associate Staff
Quizmaster
Joined
20 Mar 2011
Messages
3,892
Location
West Country
While just looking at the details of the Greater Manchester plusbus, a question regarding validity has come to mind. The information page states that the 'Bee Network' is a participating operator, which to my understanding includes bus and tram services. The PlusBus FAQs however state that the Manchester Metrolink is not included. While I suspect an oversight failing to specify specifically 'Bee Network buses' is the source of this discrepancy, which information would take precedence, and has anyone had experience with this recently?
 

Bungle965

Established Member
Associate Staff
Buses & Coaches
Joined
2 Jul 2014
Messages
3,378
Location
Calder Valley
While just looking at the details of the Greater Manchester plusbus, a question regarding validity has come to mind. The information page states that the 'Bee Network' is a participating operator, which to my understanding includes bus and tram services. The PlusBus FAQs however state that the Manchester Metrolink is not included. While I suspect an oversight failing to specify specifically 'Bee Network buses' is the source of this discrepancy, which information would take precedence, and has anyone had experience with this recently?
Trams aren't included in Manchester
 

81A

Member
Joined
22 May 2026
Messages
271
Location
GWR land
Trams aren't included in Manchester
Obviously they aren't meant to be, but on the other hand, someone viewing the page @Class172 linked would have no reason to think "Bee Network" meant anything other than, well, Bee Network (and the "it's PlusBus, so obviously no trams" argument falls over when considering some PlusBus tickets do allow trams-Birmingham springs to mind).

In short, seems contractually dubious to penalise someone for using a Manchester PlusBus on the trams, given your "average" passenger could easily conclude it is valid...
 

Bungle965

Established Member
Associate Staff
Buses & Coaches
Joined
2 Jul 2014
Messages
3,378
Location
Calder Valley
Used a Bradford PlusBus this afternoon, again no issues on First.
Different story on TLC Travel, Ticketer machine rejected, although driver was happy to allow travel
 

Haywain

Veteran Member
Joined
3 Feb 2013
Messages
24,625
using a Manchester PlusBus on the trams, given your "average" passenger could easily conclude it is valid...
I can't see any good reason that your "average" passenger would think it would be valid on anything other than buses.
 

Class172

Established Member
Associate Staff
Quizmaster
Joined
20 Mar 2011
Messages
3,892
Location
West Country
I can't see any good reason that your "average" passenger would think it would be valid on anything other than buses.
Of course there's an argument that can be made that a passenger aware of the existence of PlusBus is not an 'average' passenger. If your prior experience of them however is in places such as Birmingham or Sheffield, where trams are included, then it's perfectly reasonable to assume this might apply elsewhere.
 

plugwash

Established Member
Joined
29 May 2015
Messages
1,993
While just looking at the details of the Greater Manchester plusbus, a question regarding validity has come to mind. The information page states that the 'Bee Network' is a participating operator, which to my understanding includes bus and tram services. The PlusBus FAQs however state that the Manchester Metrolink is not included. While I suspect an oversight failing to specify specifically 'Bee Network buses' is the source of this discrepancy, which information would take precedence, and has anyone had experience with this recently?
I don't think you can read the "participating operators" section and yet ignore the actual description of the ticket (emphasis mine).

With a Stockport PlusBus (Greater Manchester) ticket, you can enjoy unlimited bus travel across the local area on all participating operators' services, as shown below.

I do think it's a bit crappy though that you have to go to a seperate "trams" page to find out which trams plusbus is accepted on, rather than it being mentioned in the pages on the individual tickets.
 

Haywain

Veteran Member
Joined
3 Feb 2013
Messages
24,625
I do think it's a bit crappy though that you have to go to a seperate "trams" page to find out which trams plusbus is accepted on, rather than it being mentioned in the pages on the individual tickets.
It is mentioned in the individual pages, under participating operators, although in Blackpool's case there is no distinction as both bus and tram have the same operator.
 

Edvid

Established Member
Joined
7 Feb 2008
Messages
2,493
Travelled within the Milton Keynes Central (MKC) and Luton Airport Parkway (LTN) PlusBus zones yesterday. Tickets were issued by ticket offices on PRT* and accepted on all 17 rides, but scans were a mixed bag as ever.

-----
Arriva Beds & Bucks - 5 rides (4 MKC, 1 LTN). All scans successful.

Uno (MKC only) - 3 rides. 2 scans successful, 1 scan impossible (faulty Ticketer). Pleasantly surprised as Uno isn't listed as a participant.

Grant Palmer - 3 rides. 2 scans successful (MKC), 1 scan rejected (LTN).

Red Rose (MKC only) - 2 rides. 1 scan rejected, 1 scan impossible (faulty Ticketer).

Stagecoach East - 2 rides (1 in each zone). Both scans impossible because Vix, though Ticketers will replace them in due course.

Centrebus South (LTN only) - 1 ride. A bizarre one, this - scan was initially rejected then accepted before the rejection tone could finish with a NO TICKETS AVAILABLE message displayed (usually indicative of a faulty Ticketer). Essentially "Computer Says N--Yes!"

Z&S Transport (MKC only) - 1 ride. Scan not registered as TransMach TM500 camera** failed to detect Aztec code. No option to manually record PlusBus use either so Z&S don't get credit for it; driver in question previously made enquiries (not sure to whom) about this issue.
-----

@Adam Williams if you'd like me to send the usual Ticketer rejected scan details let me know.

[* MKC +Bus purchased at Luton Airport Parkway (run by GTR), LTN +Bus purchased at Bletchley (run by WMT).]
[** In my limited experience these work less than half the time. In contrast the TM700 versions worked just fine during my Reading travels earlier this year.]
 

Edvid

Established Member
Joined
7 Feb 2008
Messages
2,493
If you don't mind, means it can be tracked on Raileasy's side and then escalated to Ticketer.
Should I send you a Railforums DM or a message through the TrainSplit app?

(Just sent DM. Can send through TS too if preferred.)
 
Last edited:

Top