Digital PlusBus ticket goes live across the UK

The digital PlusBus ticket is now available in most areas across the UK. Passengers can combine rail travel with local bus or tram travel through a single purchase.

How the digital PlusBus ticket works?

Rail Delivery Group introduced the new format in partnership with Traveline. Also, the PlusBus eTicket is now available in most parts of the country. Meanwhile, the wider rollout follows a 2025 trial in parts of Yorkshire and Cambridge.

PlusBus is an add-on to a rail fare. It allows unlimited travel on most buses and trams within designated local bus and tram zones. Until now, it had been issued only on paper. Also, customers can buy it online with their rail ticket under the new arrangement. They receive separate barcodes for each part of the journey.

Barcode use across PlusBus zones

The change reflects broader shifts in ticket buying. In addition, industry figures show that more than two-thirds of passengers now choose digital tickets. The new format is intended to simplify journeys that use more than one mode.

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The system depends on bus and tram operators accepting National Rail barcodes. This applies across more than 280 PlusBus zones in England, Wales and parts of Scotland. At the same time, most participating operators can now scan and validate the digital version.

Still, passengers using the eTicket no longer need a paper ticket for the bus leg. Both parts of the journey can be stored on a mobile device.

Paul Bowden, Commercial Director at Rail Delivery Group, said:

Making PlusBus available as an eTicket is a major step forward in a seamless ticketing experience for customers. Being able to receive their rail and PlusBus ticket together online, in one transaction, suits the customer of today, with more and more people preferring the flexibility of digital tickets.

This is a significant achievement that helps remove barriers between different forms of public transport and makes journeys easier, sustainable and more convenient. As the industry moves towards the creation of Great British Railways, we are working hard to make buying tickets as straightforward as possible for customers.

Ticketing changes and Great British Railways

Digital PlusBus comes as the rail industry continues preparations for Great British Railways. Separately, the process is expected to bring further changes to ticketing and network coordination.

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