Reading Buses have announced changes to some ticket prices from Monday September 2 which will see an increase in the price of a standard day ticket. 

They said the changes are necessary due to increasing costs across the board, and the need to continue investing in their services to provide the best possible experience for their customers.

The company said that fares below £2 will increase by 10p. Most weekly tickets will increase by 50p or £1 depending the travel zone, and there are equivalent increases to most longer term tickets.

The good news, they say, is that the government £2 single fare cap will continue to apply to all journeys at least until 31 December, so no journey will cost more than £2. The £1.60 Reading short hop fare is also frozen.

Reading Borough Council’s Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) funding that is supporting the heavily discounted Reading All-Bus Day ticket is being reduced, meaning that day ticket prices will revert to the previous price of £4.00 when purchased on the Reading Buses app, or when using tap-on tap-off on the bus.

Day tickets purchased from the driver will be increased to £4.50 to help encourage pre-purchase or use of tap-on tap-off, both of which help speed up boarding times.

Robert Williams, Reading Buses Chief Executive Officer said “Our fares still represent amazing value given the level of cost inflation in recent years - the Reading All-Bus day ticket is still the same price as the simplyReading day ticket was in 2016, and now includes all other bus companies services in Reading.

“We have seen some people continuing to ask for the traditional tickets from the driver, possibly because they like the reassurance of a piece of paper in their hand, so would highlight that full details about your journeys, and receipts, can be downloaded by registering your bank card with on our website or app – with the added bonus that app tickets are also quicker to use and help to speed up boarding times making the buses more efficient.”

Full details of the fares change can be found on the Reading Buses website.

It's been just over a week since a controversial bus lane in Reading has been introduced, with drivers spotted waiting in queues and fears of more traffic delays in the future.

A bus lane has been established heading inbound between Liverpool Road and Cemetery Junction after a decision by Reading Borough Council.

The change has proven controversial as it has taken a traffic lane away from drivers. Read more here.