Passengers travelling in Southampton will see an increase in the cost of travelcards from 30 April 2026, as the Solent Go scheme updates its pricing across the region. The change affects tickets used on services operated by Bluestar, Unilink, Salisbury Reds, First, Stagecoach, Wheelers, and Xelabus.
Under the new price structure, the Solent Region day pass will rise from £9 to £11, representing an increase of approximately 22 per cent. The Southampton City Zone day pass will also see an increase, moving from £5.50 to £6. Additionally, weekly passes and multi-trip saver tickets for the Southampton City Zone are set to rise in price. Specifically, the weekly pass will increase from £22 to £24, and the five-trip saver ticket will go up from £25 to £27.
Richard Tyldsley, general manager of Bluestar, which is a subsidiary of Go-Ahead Group plc, has previously stated that the company thinks very carefully before making changes to ticket prices, noting that increases are necessary due to the company’s running costs having risen significantly. Bluestar has increased fares four times in three years, according to BBC reporting from September 2025, with adult dayrider paper tickets having risen by 28 per cent since 2022.
The announcement of these price hikes follows recent decisions by Hampshire County Council to withdraw funding for several bus services deemed commercially unviable, with ten routes cut in March 2026. These combined changes have drawn criticism from some local passengers, who have expressed concerns about the impact on low-income workers and those with mobility requirements.
Despite the changes to multi-trip and period tickets, the Department for Transport has confirmed that the national £3 bus fare cap for single journeys and the £1 evening fare will remain unchanged until at least March 2027. Passengers using the Solent Go scheme are reminded that travel restrictions remain in place on certain routes, including specific limitations on Bluestar 6 and Salisbury Reds X7 and X7R services.
The Southampton City Council continues to offer concessionary bus passes for eligible older residents and those with disabilities, which remain unaffected by these operator-led price adjustments.
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