The service operates Monday to Friday, but not on public holidays. It does not operate on Saturday or Sunday.
How to use the service
In the following sections you will find information on booking, planning a journey, vehicle accessibility, fares, paying for a journey, concessionary bus passes and cancelling a journey.
Phone calls and emails will be answered between 10am and 2pm, Monday to Friday.
You can book up to 7 days in advance. The latest you can book a journey is 30 minutes before you wish to travel.
You can make regular bookings using the app or by telephone or email. If you use the app, you will also be able to save your favourite journeys, saving you time in future.
You will be asked for a name and an email/telephone number so we can provide information about your bookings and journeys. A booking cannot be made without this information.
If using the app, it will show the closest pick-up point for your trip and let you know the walking distance. If booking by phone or email, one of the team will discuss the closest pick-up point with you.
When booking, you can either:
select the approximate time you'd like to be collected or,
tell us the arrival time (if you have to get somewhere by a certain time)
Our smart technology will match up your journey with other passengers travelling in the same direction.
You will then be given a pickup time which is either as close as possible to the pick-up time you requested, or will make sure you get to your destination at the arrival time.
Accessibility
Our vehicles are low floor and fully accessible. The driver will be happy to lower the ramp and handrail for you.
If you use a wheelchair, please mention this when making a booking either within the passenger app or by phone/email.
Our fares offer excellent value for money with single and return tickets:
single:
adult: £2.00
child/young person: £1.50
return:
adult: £4.00
child/young person: £3.00
Child/young person fares are for anyone under 16 (or 19 if in full-time education). Children under 5 travel for free.
You can buy tickets in the app or from the driver. Fares for single and return journeys are displayed in the app. You may also purchase day tickets within the app. If booking by email or telephone, you will be advised of the price for the journey, so that you can pay the driver when you get on the bus.
How to pay
If you use the app to book, you can either pay in the app or choose to pay the driver when you board the bus.
If you make the booking by phone or email, we will let you know the price and you will pay the driver when you board the bus.
Drivers will accept cash or card payments. If paying by cash, please have correct change if possible.
Concessionary bus passes
Concessionary bus passes are accepted on the service after 9.30am.
When you book, you will need to mention that you have a bus pass. The driver will ask to see this when you board the bus.
If you are unable to show a valid Concessionary Bus Pass when boarding the vehicle you will be expected to pay for your trip.
As well as West Berkshire Community Connect's On-demand bus services, we also operate some timetabled routes that run alongside the service. These services operate independently from the on-demand bus services.
You do not need to book these journeys as they operate like a traditional bus service - just turn up at the bus stop and board. You will not be able to track these journeys via the passenger app.
These services are:
Community Connect A (CCA)
This service operates Monday to Friday all year round between Brightwalton and Newbury, extending to Newbury College, Park House and St Bartholomew's Schools in college/school term time.
West Berkshire Community Connect On-Demand Transport Services has been made possible by funding from HM Government, given to West Berkshire Council after submission of a Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) in October 2021.
Further help and guidance for using the Community Connect on-demand transport service, including if you can't make it to your nearest bus stop and bringing dogs on board.
