Tap on, tap off payments are to be introduced by Reading Buses on 1 November, allowing for automatic fare calculation and price capping.
Passengers paying with contactless back cards, phones and watches will be charged £2 for their first journey – due to Bus Fare Cap Grant scheme capping – on trips within the “simplyReading” zone. For their next journey, their fare will be capped at the day ticket rate.
As part of the launch, the Reading All-Bus ticket will be discounted to £3 from £3.40 within the simplyReading zone until 31 December. The multi-operator scheme is run in conjunction with Thames Travel, Arriva and Reading Borough Council.
Reading Buses hopes the system will attract more bus users. Chief Executive Officer Robert Williams says: “By using tap on, tap off customers will never pay more than the day ticket price and don’t need to worry about having the right fare or asking for the right ticket.
“It also means that if a customer ends up making more journeys than they planned, they don’t have to buy more tickets as their fare will likely have been capped.
“If customers want to buy Boost tickets they should do so on the app and, for those travelling regularly, buying a period ticket on the app or smartcard might still be more cost-effective to give better savings.”
The tap on, tap off system will be available on all Reading Buses services, excluding football and school services. It will also be usable on Thames Valley Buses services that run into Reading, but will not be applicable on Newbury and District.
