Fares rise on Brighton and Hove Buses today

Most adult bus fares are due to go up 10p on Brighton and Hove Buses today (Sunday 13 April).

The company said that in most cases customers could save money by using its smartcard – the Key – or by buying “mtickets” on their mobile phones.

The company also said that it was freezing prices for many passengers.

The company said that it was keen to encourage passengers to switch to Key cards and mtickets as prices were cheaper compared with paying on the bus or buying scratch cards.

The new technology also saved time, helping keep the buses moving punctually, the company said.

Twenty per cent of customers pay when they board. The company aims to keep reducing the proportion to help improve boarding times and punctuality.

Commercial director Mike Best said: “The range of options for our customers is increasing, allowing customers to make their choices away from the bus with the use of the new digital sales options on smart cards and mobile phones.

“Families, students, under 18s and city centre travellers all have options to keep their prices unchanged.”

Prices have been frozen on the family saver, which still costs £9. The student seven-day saver on the Key stays at £12.50. The Bus ID continuous payment ticket remains at £29 a month. Centrefare stays at £2. And all nightbus fares remain unchanged.

The company’s new duo saver mticket for two people travelling together was developed in response to suggestions from current mticket customers.

Two people can now travel together with the convenience of a duo on one phone. Duo tickets will remain priced at £7.80.

The £2 centrefare will now also be available on mtickets and a new citywide area single ticket is being introduced on mtickets priced at less than the current cash fare of £2.25.

Students could also benefits from mtickets too with student savers coming in on mtickets for seven-day and 90-day durations.

New multiple ticket options on the key introduces more ways to save for those that like to buy in advance to get a discount.

Multiple purchases of one-day savers will now be possible on the key at the old price of £3.90 each, representing an ideal way for those working part-time to get the flexibility of carrying less than a full week’s ticket and still get a discount.

A new multitrip ticket will also be available on the Key offering single journeys around the city area from just £2 each and available in advance in multiples of 10, 20 or 30 tickets.