Lothian have today (Monday 6 March) announced that fares will be revised across its group of companies – Lothian, Lothiancountry and EastCoastbuses – from Sunday 2 April 2023.
The fares review will see increases to some of the company’s fares for the first time in three years, with adult single fares increasing by 20p, while adult DAYtickets will increase by 50p. Lothian’s season ticket, Ridacard, which was last increased in 2020 will also see an increase, along with airport fares and child tickets. With the popularity of capped contactless payments increasing, customers on Lothian services using the same contactless card or device all day will continue to benefit from the cheapest daily adult fare, saving 20p on the revised DAYticket price. Revised fares can be found below.
Sarah Boyd, Managing Director at Lothian, said: “As one of Edinburgh’s main local employers, we are committed to developing and contributing to the economic and social wellbeing of our operating area and communities, and delivering an inclusive and accessible bus service which represents value for money”.
“With operating costs continuing to rise, we will be making changes to our fares from 2 April in order to prioritise investment in our fleet, our people and our customer offering. While no fare increase is welcome and we are aware of the cost pressures being faced by our customers, we strongly believe our fares continue to represent excellent value for money.”
“In the three years since we last undertook a fares review, our business has encountered a number of challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic, industry-wide recruitment shortages and continually rising costs.”
“With patronage still not at pre-pandemic levels and all fares revenue going directly back into the running of our business, it is therefore vital that as a commercial bus operator we make decisions now that will futureproof the viability of our network for our customers and our colleagues.”
“As we look to the future, our priorities and focus will remain on rebuilding Lothian and taking positive steps towards achieving our vision for decarbonisation and achieving the net zero aspirations set by the Scottish Government and Local Authority shareholders.”
Product | Validity | Current Fare | Revised Fare |
Adult SINGLEticket | Valid for one journey on a day service in the city zone, excluding Airlink. | £1.80 | £2.00 |
Adult DAYticket | Unlimited journeys on day services in the city zone, excluding Airlink. Also valid on Edinburgh Trams in the city zone. | £4.50 | £5.00 |
TapTapCap – DAYticket cap* | Unlimited journeys on day services in the city zone, excluding Airlink. | £4.40 | £4.80 |
TapTapCap – Lothian Week cap* | Maximum weekly cap for unlimited journeys on day and night services in the city and airport zones. Weekly caps run Monday – Sunday. | £20.00 | £22.00 |
Adult Network Day Ticket | Unlimited journeys on day and NightBus services across our entire network, including Edinburgh Trams in all zones. | £10.00 | £12.00 |
NIGHTsingle | Valid for one journey on a NightBus service in the city zone. | £3.00 | £3.00 |
LATEticket | Unlimited journeys on day and NightBus services after 6pm in the city zone. | £4.00 | £4.50 |
TapTapCap – LATEticket cap* | Unlimited journeys on day and NightBus services after 6pm in the city zone. | £4.00 | £4.30 |
TapTapCap – Network Week cap* | Maximum weekly cap for unlimited journeys on day and NightBus services across our entire network. | £40.00 | £45.00 |
* For adult customers, tap the same card or mobile payment device for every journey across our entire network, and the following morning we’ll automatically charge you the cheapest adult daily fare for the journeys you’ve made. Keep using the same card or device all week and once you’ve reached one of our weekly caps, which run from Monday to Sunday, you won’t pay any more for the rest of the week.
Product | Validity | Current Fare | Revised Fare |
Child SINGLEticket | Valid for one journey on a day service in the city zone, excluding Airlink. | £0.90 | £1.00 |
Child DAYticket | Unlimited journeys on day services in the city zone, excluding Airlink. | £2.20 | £2.50 |
Family DAYticket | Unlimited journeys on day services in the city zone, excluding Airlink for up to 2 adults and 3 children. | £9.50 | £10.50 |
Adult Ridacards
Product | Validity | Current Fare | Revised Fare |
Adult 1-week Advance Purchase | Unlimited travel across our network. | £20.00 | £22.00 |
Adult 4-week Advance Purchase | Unlimited travel across our network. | £60.00 | £66.00 |
Adult Direct Debit Monthly | Unlimited travel across our network. | £56.00 | £62.00 |
Adult Annual Advance Purchase | Unlimited travel across our network. | £600 | £650 |
Student Ridacards
Product | Validity | Current Fare | Revised Fare |
Student 1-week Advance Purchase | Unlimited travel across our network. | £17.00 | £19.00 |
Student 4-week Advance Purchase | Unlimited travel across our network. | £51.00 | £57.00 |
Student 9-month Advance Purchase | Unlimited travel across our network. | £450.00 | £500.00 |
Student Direct Debit Monthly | Unlimited travel across our network. | £45.00 | £50.00 |
Student Annual Pre-Paid | Unlimited travel across our network. | £510.00 | £570.00 |
Junior Ridacards
Product | Validity | Current Fare | Revised Fare |
Junior 1-week Advance Purchase | Unlimited travel across our network. | £10.00 | £11.00 |
Junior 4-week Advance Purchase | Unlimited travel across our network. | £30.00 | £33.00 |
Junior Direct Debit Monthly | Unlimited travel across our network. | £26.00 | £31.00 |
Junior Annual Advance Purchase | Unlimited travel across our network. | £300 | £325 |
Citysmart journeys will increase in line with the revised adult single fare.
Product | Validity | Current Fare | Revised Fare |
Adult Single | 1 zone | £1.80 | £2.00 |
Adult Single | 2 or 3 zones | £2.80 | £3.00 |
Adult Single | 4 zones | £3.80 | £4.00 |
Adult Single | 5 zones | £4.80 | £5.00 |
Adult Single | 6 zones | £5.80 | £6.00 |
Adult cityWEST Day Ticket | Unlimited daytime journeys in city and cityWEST zones. | £5.50 | £5.50 |
Adult countryWEST Day Ticket | Unlimited daytime journeys in countryWEST zones a-d only. | £5.50 | £5.50 |
Adult lothianWEST Day Ticket | Unlimited daytime journeys in all Lothian Country zones, also valid on Lothian and Edinburgh Trams in city zone. | £8.00 | £8.50 |
TapTapCap – cityWEST Day cap* | Unlimited daytime journeys in city and cityWEST zones. | £5.50 | £5.50 |
TapTapCap – countryWEST Day cap* | Unlimited journeys on daytime services in countryWEST zones a-d. | £5.50 | £5.50 |
TapTapCap – lothianWEST Day cap* | Unlimited daytime journeys in all Lothian Country zones. Also valid on Lothian services in the city zone. | £8.00 | £8.30 |
TapTapCap – countryWEST Week cap* | Maximum weekly cap for unlimited daytime journeys in countryWEST zones a-d only. | £22.00 | £22.00 |
TapTapCap – lothianWEST Week cap* | Maximum weekly cap for unlimited daytime journeys in all Lothian Country zones. Also valid on Lothian services in the city zone. | £32.00 | £34.00 |
TapTapCap – Network Week cap* | Maximum weekly cap on day and NightBus services across our entire network. | £40.00 | £45.00 |
NIGHTcityWEST | Unlimited daytime journeys in city and cityWEST zones. | £5.00 | £5.00 |
NIGHT countryWEST | Unlimited daytime journeys in countryWEST zones a-d only. | £3.00 | £5.00 |
NIGHT lothianWEST | Unlimited daytime journeys in all Lothiancountry zones. | £6.00 | £8.00 |
* For adult customers, tap the same card or mobile payment device for every journey across our entire network, and the following morning we’ll automatically charge you the cheapest adult daily fare for the journeys you’ve made. Keep using the same card or device all week and once you’ve reached one of our weekly caps, which run from Monday to Sunday, you won’t pay any more for the rest of the week.
Product | Validity | Current Fare | Revised Fare |
Child Single | 1 zone | £0.90 | £1.00 |
Child Single | 2 or 3 zones | £1.40 | £1.50 |
Child Single | 4 zones | £1.90 | £2.00 |
Child Single | 5 zones | £2.40 | £2.50 |
Child Single | 6 zones | £2.90 | £3.00 |
Child cityWEST Day Ticket | Unlimited daytime journeys in city and cityWEST zones. | £2.70 | £2.75 |
Child countryWEST Day Ticket | Unlimited daytime journeys in countryWEST zones a-d only. | £2.70 | £2.75 |
Child lothianWEST Day Ticket | Unlimited daytime journeys in all Lothiancountry zones, also valid on Lothian and Edinburgh Trams in city zone. | £3.70 | £4.25 |
Family cityWEST Day Ticket* | Unlimited daytime journeys in city and cityWEST zones. | £12.50 | £13.50 |
Family countryWEST Day Ticket* | Unlimited daytime journeys in countryWEST zones a-d only. | £12.50 | £13.50 |
Family lothianWEST Day Ticket* | Unlimited daytime journeys in all Lothian Country zones, also valid on Lothian and Edinburgh Trams in city zone. | £18.00 | £19.00 |
* Valid for up to 2 adults and 3 children.
Product | Validity | Current Fare | Revised Fare |
5 x countryWEST Day Ticket | Unlimited daytime journeys in countryWEST zones a-d only. | £19.50 | £19.50 |
20 x countryWEST Day Ticket | Unlimited daytime journeys in countryWEST zones a-d only. | £55.00 | £55.00 |
5 x lothianWEST Day Ticket | Unlimited daytime journeys in all Lothiancountry zones, also valid on Lothian and Edinburgh Trams in city zone. | £26.50 | £29.00 |
20 x lothianWEST Day Ticket | Unlimited daytime journeys in all Lothiancountry zones, also valid on Lothian and Edinburgh Trams in city zone. | £100.00 | £110.00 |
Product | Validity | Current Fare | Revised Fare |
Adult Single | 1 zone (or 2 zones if journey includes city zone a) | £1.80 | £2.00 |
Adult Single | 2 or 3 zones | £2.80 | £3.00 |
Adult Single | 4 zones | £3.80 | £4.00 |
Adult Single | 5 zones | £4.80 | £5.00 |
Adult Single | 6 zones | £5.80 | £6.00 |
Adult County Day Ticket | Unlimited daytime journeys in zones b-f only. | £5.50 | £5.50 |
Adult CountyPLUS Day Ticket | Unlimited daytime journeys in all ECB zones, also valid on Lothian services in the city zone. | £8.00 | £8.50 |
TapTapCap – County Day cap* | Unlimited daytime journeys in zones b-f only. | £5.50 | £5.50 |
TapTapCap – CountyPLUS Day cap* | Unlimited daytime journeys in all ECB zones, also valid on Lothian services in the city zone. | £8.00 | £8.30 |
TapTapCap – County Week cap* | Maximum weekly cap on unlimited journeys in zones b-f only. | £22.00 | £22.00 |
TapTapCap – CountyPLUS Week cap* | Maximum weekly cap on unlimited daytime journeys in all ECB zones, also valid on Lothian services in the city zone. | £32.00 | £34.00 |
TapTapCap – Network Week cap* | Maximum weekly cap for unlimited journeys on day and NightBus services across our entire network. | £40.00 | £45.00 |
County NightHawk | Valid for travel within zones b-f. | £5.00 | £5.00 |
CountyPLUS NightHawk | Valid for travel within zones a-f. | £8.00 | £8.00 |
* For adult customers, tap the same card or mobile payment device for every journey across our entire network, and the following morning we’ll automatically charge you the cheapest adult daily fare for the journeys you’ve made. Keep using the same card or device all week and once you’ve reached one of our weekly caps, which run from Monday to Sunday, you won’t pay any more for the rest of the week.
Product | Validity | Current Fare | Revised Fare |
Child Single | 1 Zone | £0.90 | £1.00 |
Child Single | 2 or 3 zones | £1.40 | £1.50 |
Child Single | 4 zones | £1.90 | £2.00 |
Child Single | 5 zones | £2.40 | £2.50 |
Child Single | 6 zones | £2.90 | £3.00 |
Child County Day Ticket | Unlimited daytime journeys in zones b-f only. | £2.70 | £2.75 |
Child CountyPLUS Day Ticket | Unlimited daytime journeys in all ECB zones, also valid on Lothian and Edinburgh Trams in city zone. | £3.70 | £4.25 |
Family County Day Ticket* | Unlimited daytime journeys in zones b-f only. | £12.50 | £13.50 |
Family CountyPLUS Day Ticket* | Unlimited daytime journeys in all ECB zones, also valid on Lothian and Edinburgh Trams in city zone. | £18.00 | £19.00 |
* Valid for up to 2 adults and 3 children.
Product | Validity | Current Fare | Revised Fare |
28 x County Day Ticket | Unlimited daytime journeys in zones b-f only. | £105.00 | £105.00 |
10 x County Day Ticket | Unlimited daytime journeys in zones b-f only. | £40.00 | £40.00 |
28 x countyPLUS Day Ticket | Unlimited daytime journeys in all ECB zones, also valid on Lothian and Edinburgh Trams in city zone. | £165.00 | £165.00 |
10 x countyPLUS Day Ticket | Unlimited daytime journeys in all ECB zones, also valid on Lothian and Edinburgh Trams in city zone. | £60.00 | £60.00 |
Product | Validity | Current Fare | Revised Fare |
Adult Single | City zone to Airport | £4.50 | £5.50 |
Adult Intermediate Single | Between Maybury and Airport | £2.50 | £3.00 |
Adult Return | City zone to Airport | £7.50 | £8.00 |
Adult Network Day Ticket | Unlimited journeys on day and NightBus services across our entire network including Airlink. | £10.00 | £12.00 |
TapTapCap – Lothian Week cap* | Maximum weekly cap for unlimited journeys on day and night services in the city and airport zones. Weekly caps run Monday – Sunday. | £20.00 | £22.00 |
TapTapCap – Network Week cap* | Maximum weekly cap for unlimited journeys on day and NightBus services across our entire network including Airlink. | £40.00 | £45.00 |
* For adult passengers, tap the same card or mobile payment device for every journey across our entire network, and the following morning we’ll automatically charge you the cheapest adult daily fare for the journeys you’ve made. Keep using the same card or device all week and once you’ve reached one of our weekly caps, which run from Monday to Sunday, you won’t pay any more for the rest of the week.
Product | Validity | Current Fare | Revised Fare |
Child Single | City zone to Airport | £2.00 | £2.75 |
Child Single | Maybury/Gyle to Airport | £1.50 | £1.50 |
Child Return | City zone to Airport | £3.00 | £4.00 |
Child Network Day Ticket | Unlimited journeys on day and NightBus services across our entire network including Airlink. | £5.00 | £6.00 |
Airport Family Return* | Open return journey to or from Edinburgh Airport. | £18.00 | £20.00 |
* Valid for up to 2 adults and 3 children.