D&G Bus tickets will be overhauled in January for the first time in two years, as the provider phases out the use of Cheshire Travelcards on its services and withdraws NHS discounts.

The company – which was bought by Centrebus last week – will put the price of a single ticket up by 10p across Cheshire from Wednesday, January 1, from which date D&G passengers will no longer be able to top up Cheshire Travelcards onboard.

Payment via Travelcard will be accepted – at full price as opposed to the current up-to-15 per cent discount – up until February 29, at which point the service will cease.

A D&G Bus spokesman said: “The majority of our fares have remained unchanged for over two years, but we are making some changes from January 1, 2020."

'Network Week' tickets will rise to £16 for adults – who will still be able to have a young person travel with them for free – and £14 students or young people.

Knutsford Guardian:

A new 'Student Network 4-Week' ticket will be offered on all services, priced at £50. A valid student ID must be presented on purchase and shown on request with each use.

NHS staff discounted tickets will be withdrawn, while 'Scholar' season tickets will increase to £220 for autumn term and £350 for spring and summer terms, or £570 for an annual ticket.

This equates to only £3 per day.

D&G operates the 1,2, 4, 82 and 89 services in Northwich, the 42 in Middlewich, the 88, 188 and 89 in Knutsford and the 319 in Holmes Chapel, Allostock and Goostrey.

All single fares will increase by 10p, while Knutsford Return prices will increase to £3.50 for an adult and £2.50 for a young person. Knutsford Week prices will increase to £12 for adults and £8.50 for students or young people.

Holders of adult Knutsford Week tickets can still have a young person travel with them for no extra charge.

The Travelcard will still be valid on Arriva and Aintree Coachline services, where the discount is 10 per cent. Fellow Cheshire bus providers M&H, Stagecoach and Warrington’s Own Buses do not offer Travelcard discounts.

Chris Almond, D&G bus network manager, said: "The reason behind the withdrawal from the Cheshire Travelcard scheme is that we now accept contactless payments on our buses and the number of payments through the Travelcard scheme are now minimal, accounting for only 0.1 per cent of our revenue.

"The Travelcard scheme was great when it was first introduced, but technology has overtaken it and it’s now easier to pay using a debit or credit card."

Passengers will still be able to pay by contactless or cash on all D&G Bus services, and Travelcard refunds can be obtained through Cheshire West and Chester Council on 01244 973353.