- Free bus travel confirmed for two weekendsin December 2022 following Traffic Commissioner’s decision.
- Customers will not require a ticket fortravelwithin the Exeter Plus zone on these weekends.
- Details of journeys eligible for free travel are outlined.
Stagecoach South West have today confirmed details on the upcoming days of freebus travelwithin the Exeter Plustravelzone. Following the recent decision of the Traffic Commissioner, bus journeys will be free over the weekends of Saturday the 10th and Sunday 11th of December and Saturday the 17th and Sunday 18th of December 2022. Customers will not require a ticket fortravelin this area on these dates.
Stagecoach South West Managing Director Mike Watson said: ‘Wedeeply regret the level of service experienced by some of our passengers in recent months. Moving forward, our priority is to build on the extensive steps we have been taking to drive up the reliability of our services for our local communities. We are committed to working with our local authority partners to ensure these improvements continue and are sustained.”
Free travel is valid within the Exeter Plus travel Zone, which encompasses journeys across Exeter and within the boundaries of Ottery St Mary, Cullompton, Bickleigh, Crediton, Okehampton, Whitestone, Longdown, Kennford, Teignmouth, Exton, Woodbury, Woodbury Salterton, Nine Oaks Cross and Exmouth excluding Sandy Bay.
Over the course of the two travel weekends customers will not be required to purchase a ticket within the free travel zone. Customers who have pre bought day tickets via the mobile app, are reminded not to activate their ticket on the free travel dates. Mobile tickets are valid for 3 months until they require activated, however once activated are valid until 4am on the day after activation. Stagecoach urge customers with a pre purchased day ticket to save this for use when tickets are required.
Exeter has seen an increase of customers into the city centre as the festive season approaches. Many shoppers are arriving by car, with the city’s main roads building in traffic congestion. Stagecoach hopes that the free travel weekends will give customers an opportunity to give the bus a try again, whilst easing traffic into the city.
Which bus will I be able to take advantage of free travel on?
The offer applies to Stagecoach South West Local bus services operating the Exeter Plus Zone only. Free travel will be available on the entire routes of all Exeter city services as well as parts of some bus routes that enter in and out of Exeter City Centre. Buses taking part in the free travel weekends are as follows:
Bus routes where free travel is eligible across the entire length of route:
| A | Alphington to Sidwell Street |
| B | Whipton/Exeter Science Park to Marsh Barton & Exminster |
| E1/E2 | Beacon Heath or Pinhoe to Exwick |
| F | Savoy and Summerway to West Garth Road |
| H | St Davids Station to Hospital and Digby |
| I/J | Countess Wear/Whipton to Ikea and Digby |
| P | Pennsylvania to Crossmead |
| R/S | Rifford Road Circular |
| UNI | University Streathem campus to St Lukes |
| 4/4A | St davids Station and Hontion Road P&R to Cranbrook or Exeter Airport |
| 5 | Exeter City Centre to Crediton |
| 57 | Exeter City Centre to Exmouth via Topsham and Lymstone |
| 98 | Exmouth to Littleham |
| 99E | Exmouth to Littleham via Brixington |
| 360 | Exeter City Centre to Cristow and Bridford |
| Green P&R | Matford Park and Ride to Sowton Park and Ride via Exeter City Centre |
Bus routes where free travel is eligible across part of the route:
| Route | Free travel as far as | |
| 1 | Exeter to Cullompton via Pinhoe, Broadclyst and Brandinch | Cullompton Kings Oak Lea |
| 2 | Exeter to Newton Abbot via Exminster, Dawlish, Teignmouth and Kingsteignton | Broadmeadow Morrisons |
| 5 | Exeter to Crediton | Crediton |
| 6A | Exeter to Okehampton | Okehampton |
| 7 | Exeter to Totnes via Newton Abbot | Haldon Chalet |
| 9/9A | Exeter to Honiton or Seaton via Newton Poppleford, Sidmouth and Sidford | White Cross, White Horse |
| 22 | Dawlish Warren to South Devon College via Teignmouth, Shaldon and Torquay | Shaldon Bridge |
| X38 | Exeter to Plymouth via Buckfastleigh and Ivybridge | Peamore |
| 39 | Exeter to Newton Abbot via Chudleigh, Chudleigh Knighton, Bovey Tracey and Heathfield | Kennford/Peamore |
| 44/44A | Exeter to Axminster via Honiton | Ottery St Mary |
| 55/355 | Exeter to Tiverton via Stoke Canon and Rewe | Bickleigh Bends |
| 58 | Exeter to Exmouth via Clyst St Mary and Woodbury | Woodbury |
| 95 | Exmouth Town Centre to Sandy Bay via Exmouth Sea Front and Littleham | Rodney Close |
| 157/257/357 | Exmouth to Sidmouth via Budleigh Salterton | Castle Lane |
View the Exeter plus zone here: https://tiscon-maps-stagecoachbus.s3.amazonaws.com/ZoneMaps/South%20West/ExeterZones.pdf
How do I know which bus to catch?
Simply plan your journey via the Stagecoach Bus website or mobile app. The Stagecoach Bus app has all you need in one place, with live bus information, a simple to use journey planning and bus tracking on the live map. More information here: https://www.stagecoachbus.com/promos-and-offers/national/stagecoachbusapp
When is free travel valid?
From the beginning of service until end of service on Saturday the 10th and Sunday 11th of December and Saturday the 17th and Sunday 18th of December 2022.
Do I need to register in advance or obtain a discount code?
No, intending customers boarding at bus stops within the eligible zone will not be charged travel on the dates the offer applies. This offer is subject to availability, pre booked seats are not offered.
For more information on travelling by bus and to download timetable visit stagecoachbus.com
