PlusBus tickets and the lack of bus driver knowledge

[Greenback]

I haven't had any issues with PlusBus either. I've used it regularly in Swansea without a problem, and several other towns and cities as well. Have I just been lucky?

 

[hounddog]

I've never had any problems in Birmingham or Benfleet (I'm not doing it alphabetically, they're just the only two I've had cause to use. Most journeys I do my destination is within walking distance of the station)

 

[themeone]

Maybe PlusBus tickets aren't as commonly used as we think. Advertising seems to be patchy, and when booking online it's easy to miss the bit about including PlusBus in your ticket, so you have to know in advance what it is, and that it's available for the place in question. I've never tried to buy one using a ticket machine, so don't know how it's managed there.

I've certainly never known ticket clerks suggest it at point of purchase.

 

[northwichcat]

I had exactly that problem when I tried to board a First Bus at Rochdale Bus Station with a Wayfarer printed on rail ticket stock earlier this year. The driver absolutely refused to accept it insisting it was only valid on trains. No amount of explaining would make him change his mind. I went straight into the GM Travel Centre next door and although the lady there was very apologetic all she could say was it's a format of ticket that he probably would never have seen before. She then gave me a Wayfarer leaflet to show to drivers if I had any further problems. I was never completely refused travel again but even with showing the leaflet some drivers took some convincing. The main issue was that my Wayfarer Ticket looked like a rail ticket and it had the words Rail Rover clearly printed on it.

TfGM don't seem to be able to keep up-to-date the list of participating operators for Wayfarer tickets. Even their current list shows D&G Bus who accepted them historically but don't anymore and also list Springfield Travel - there's no such operator it's Springfield Bus & Coach (part of Howards Travel Group) so a driver could argue "That's not us - it's a different operator with a similar name." I told them on numerous occasions that they should state G.H.A. Coaches including Vale Travel, not Vale of Llangollen Travel as they listed in their leaflet to avoid confusion but they didn't take any notice.