Lack of contactless means Somerset bus passengers riding for free
A Somerset bus route has been losing “more than £100 a day” as a result of contactless payments not being accepted.
Somerset Council[1] operates the 68 bus service from Yeovil[2] bus station, which shuttles passengers between the town’s two railway stations. One passenger – who did not wish to be named – said the service had not been accepting contactless card payments for months, meaning passengers who could not pay by cash were allowed to ride for free.
This, they claimed, has led to this route losing “more than £100 a day” in unpaid fares – the equivalent of more than £36,500 in a year. Somerset[3] Council has said it is “very close” to rectifying the situation and that most passengers who had been allowed to ride for free had repaid their fare the next time they had used the service.
The 68 services runs hourly from Monday to Saturday, serving the two railway stations as well as the neighbouring villages of Barwick and Stoford Yeovil’s two stations have limited rail services connecting them, with Yeovil Junction being on the Exeter to London Waterloo line (served by South Western Railway) and Yeovil Pen Mill lying on the Bristol to Weymouth[5] line (operated by Great Western Railway).
The two stations are more than two miles apart, with pedestrians seeking to walk between them having to contend with narrow lanes, steep inclines and limited off-road footpaths. In an email seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the passenger said: “I used the 68 bus recently and was exasperated to find that card payments are still not accepted. The driver apologised and said how embarrassing the whole situation is.
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“One of the service’s drivers mentioned that one service was probably losing more than £100 daily due to uncollected fares on a single route, amounting to more than £36,500 annually.” Councillor Diogo Rodrigues, shadow portfolio holder for transport and digital, said this turn of events as unacceptable given the financial pressures facing the local authority.
He said: “In the midst of Somerset Council’s dire financial situation, their passive approach to implementing basic contactless bus payment options is perplexing. Failing to harness revenue opportunities while grappling with financial challenges reflects mismanagement and a lack of foresight.
“I’m deeply concerned about potential losses exceeding £36,500 annually on just one bus route due to uncollected fares – an expense the council simply can’t afford. A troubling paradox arises as the council strives for bus service viability yet loses income from outdated payment methods.
Travellers with guard at Yeovil Junction railway station before the train departs for Waterloo station, London. Picture: Steve Roberts 20130519
“Bus companies make cuts for viability while the council’s inaction on contactless payments hampers service finances. My foremost concern is sustaining vital community services.
“The council’s sluggish response is damaging passenger well-being and route viability. Urgent action is needed to align intention with action, ensuring bus services across Somerset thrive and communities enjoy the efficient transport options they need.”
Somerset Council said that the issue was not widespread across the county’s bus services and that steps were being taken to rectify the situation. A spokesman said: “This issue only affects a relatively small number of services in Somerset where patronage is low, and many of the passengers are bus pass users.
Rail services between Pen Mill and Junction stations are minimal at present (Image: Mark Smith)
“The process of introducing contactless onto our buses has taken longer than we’d like due to a number of technical challenges which we have had to overcome. Our contactless provider is now very close to ensuring systems are aligned and tickets can be paid for with a debit or credit card.
“Passengers currently boarding without cash have been allowed to travel in a small number of cases and reminded to bring the fare next time they travel, which in most cases they appear to have done. We will be giving passengers one week’s notice prior contactless going live. After this anyone without cash or card will not be able to travel.”