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Maps & FAQ's

If you're unsure of where we travel...

simplyBracknell & Wokingham map

simplyMaidenhead map

simplySlough & Windsor Map

 

Some FAQ's...

What type of Thames Valley Buses smartcards are available?  

You will need to get a card appropriate to your age –

  • Adult  - 19+
  • Boost - for anyone 18 years and under and also available to students aged 19-21 who attend a local college or university with valid student ID 
  • Busta for 16-19 - Network fare only
  • Child - 5 - 15 years old 

We offer period 7 or 4-weekly smartcards or Multi-12 (smartcard only) which will store 12 single trips. If you only want cash only then you can choose SmartPurse.

Can I buy a 7 day period ticket on my 28 day pass (and vice versa)?  This CANNOT be done online. You will be required to visit the bus driver and pay cash to convert it to the chosen period, for one time only, OR visit the Bracknell Bus Station Travel Centre. Please check before you top-up and call if you are unsure to avoid an admin fee for a refund.

How much do the Thames Valley smartcards cost?  There is a deposit of £3 for the card which is refundable if the card is no longer needed. Then you simply pay for the product which has been pre-loaded onto the card. We ask you to complete an initial registration form; this is in case you lose your card so we can block it and transfer the balance onto a new card for you, subject to an administration charge, currently £6 including the card deposit.

Can I load a new ticket before the current one expires?  You can top-up on the bus at any time before your current ticket has expired, so it is easy to ensure that your Thames Valley smartcard is loaded with a valid ticket for travel, or sufficient cash for your needs. You will get a receipt for the ticket purchased to show it is loaded onto your Thames Valley Buses smartcard. A stored period ticket will not become active until the previous ticket has expired. Your next ticket will only activate the next time you use it. This  allows you to leave a gap from the end of one ticket to the start of the next.

During any normal working week and especially on Bank Holidays, please be aware that due to the offices being closed at weekends and Bank Holidays that your top-up may be delayed. The card support centre, who manage our top-up's are also not open. So please plan your top-up's accordingly, allowing a few days to avoid disruption to your smartcard. We do not take responsibility for customers who run out of tickets/trips/cash due to Bank Holidays. It can take up to 48 hours to load onto your smartcard. We highly recommend that you top-up before 4pm on a Friday. Thank you for your cooperation.

How do I know what is on my card?  If you are using stored cash, you will always get a ticket to show the balance remaining on your card. If using a trip from a multi-trip ticket you will get a paper ticket from the machine only when you have 2 trips left, or 2 days left on a period ticket. You can also ask the driver before placing your card on the reader, and they can give you a printout of everything on your card.

If travelling with another person, can they use my Thames Valley smartcard?  If you are using cash from the SmartPurse, then yes. If you have a Multi-Trip ticket, and the person travelling with you is in the same age category and going to the same destination as you, then that is also acceptable. Period tickets, however, are for one person only.