Portsmouth News

‘Hop on’ any Portsmouth bus

- Portsmouth City Council

Bus users in Portsmouth have reason to celebrate as the city unveils a range of new bus tickets, for both First and Stagecoach buses, that promise to make bus travel more convenient and accessible to all.

Effective from yesterday, three new bus tickets are available to people travelling alone or as part of a group, people travelling at night, or people who want a ticket for multiple journeys over 90 minutes.

These tickets have been developed in partnershi­p with local bus companies First Solent and Stagecoach South, and passengers can use them to travel on all the city’s buses.

The new tickets include: Pompey Hoppa90 – an individual ticket that is valid for 90 minutes of bus travel. Costing £3, the ticket is activated when people start their first journey.

Pompey Group – a day ticket for unlimited travel, for up to five people that costs £12.50.

Pompey Night Owl – an individual ticket that is available from 7pm and can be used until 4am.

The tickets will be available on all bus routes within the city, with the aim of providing an easy option for every occasion.

Designed to help everyone to get to and from work, around the city, and to support the night-time economy, all tickets can be used on both First and Stagecoach buses, and can be purchased on both the Stagecoach and First bus apps, or directly from the bus driver.

Cllr Gerald VernonJack­son, cabinet member for transport, said: “I’m thrilled that we have been able to release this new range of bus tickets by working with our local bus companies.

“Our residents have been asking for bus tickets that can be used on all local buses and all the tickets in this range can do just that.

“These tickets are convenient, and good for the city’s passengers.

“These tickets also complement the enhancemen­ts we have made recently to bus services, including two 24/7 routes, and more frequent buses at evenings and weekends.”

James O’Neill, commercial director for Stagecoach South, said: “We’re proud to give more people the opportunit­y to access affordable and environmen­tally friendly travel in partnershi­p with Portsmouth City Council.

“Buses provide vital links for the city with our fast and frequent services, including new evening, weekend and 24/7 timetables starting this month. There’s never been a better time to try the bus in Portsmouth.” James Eustace, commercial director at

First Solent, added: “With this range of new tickets to help people save money, increased bus services and electric vehicles about to join our fleet, now is the perfect time to try the bus.

“Why not jump on board? It’s an affordable, hasslefree way to get around Portsmouth.”

This new offering is made possible through the £48million Portsmouth Bus Service Improvemen­t Plan, a comprehens­ive project aimed at transformi­ng and improving the accessibil­ity and affordabil­ity of bus services within the city, designed to get passengers back on the bus.

Find out more about public transport in Portsmouth and the improvemen­ts to bus services and tickets, visit travel.portsmouth.gov.uk/ public-transport/

Author returns to home city

Crime writer A. A. Chaudhuri will be taking part in the Portsmouth Book Fair at Southsea Library on Sunday, February 25.

Alex, left, grew up in Portsmouth and attended Portsmouth High School.

She was featured in The News quite a few times for her tennis exploits at national level as a junior.

Alex also did a week’s work experience at the newspaper in the late 1990s and wrote a sports report for the paper in 2009 (under the name Alexandra Sage).

She trained as a solicitor and worked for several major London law firms before leaving to pursue her passion for writing.

Alex, who has a history degree from University College London. is the author of four psychologi­cal thrillers for Hera.

She will be returning to the city to promote her forthcomin­g book, Under

Her Roof, which publishes in June.

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 ?? ?? A new range of bus tickets is now available in Portsmouth
A new range of bus tickets is now available in Portsmouth

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