Tap-on to save time and money on the bus

A quick new way to pay for bus travel in Reading is set to save colleagues time and money getting to and from campus.

On 1 November, Reading Buses launched tap-on, tap-off payments across its network.

Travellers can use their contactless card or mobile payment to tap-on using the readers by the doors, and tap-off when exiting.

At the end of the day, journeys will be totted up to ensure that travellers pay the correct rate, with tap-on, tap-off usually offering the best value for single day journeys.

£3 introductory offer

Until the end of December 2023, Reading Buses is offering a special introductory price for daily travel, capped at just £3 a day within the simplyReading Zone – which includes our London Road and Whiteknights campuses.

From 1 January 2024, the price will increase to £3.40 a day in the simplyReading Zone.

Single journeys will also remain capped at £2 per trip, with Government funding for the scheme confirmed until December 2024.

For some bus users, it may still be cheaper to use season tickets. But for many travellers, tapping in might save money as well as reducing bus queues. For full details, including prices for travel in other parts of the network, take a look at the Reading Buses website.

London Travelcard update

Good news for rail travellers into London: Transport for London has cancelled plans to withdraw Day Travelcards, meaning that travellers can continue to include travel within London when paying for their train ticket.

Following an agreement with the rail operators, TfL will continue to accept day tickets for travel into London. Reading Borough Council has welcomed the announcement.

However, passengers can expect a price increase in March.