Southampton City Council and Bluestar are bringing back a popular group travel offer on buses over the Christmas period.

Between November 15, 2024 and January 5, 2025 up to five people can buy a group ticket on Bluestar, Unilink and select First Solent services and pay just £5 to travel by bus for the entire day.

The five for £5 offer was also run during the summer where it was well-received; just under 26,000 group tickets were sold which saved travellers almost £90,000 on bus travel.

All Bluestar and Unilink services within Southampton will be participating, but only First Solent’s X4 and X5 routes will be eligible for the promotion.

Andrew Wickham, Bluestar and Unilink Managing Director, said: “We are pleased to welcome back this offer for the Christmas period.

“It gives local people added incentive to leave their cars at home and travel with friends or family by bus to enjoy all the festivities. This will help ease congestion and, of course, it will benefit people’s pockets too.”

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The offer provides an alternative way to travel to Southampton’s Christmas market, which returns this year on November 15 – the same day that this group offer begins.

Mr Whickham said: “We have worked closely with Southampton City Council, and it is testament to our excellent partnership that we have been able to make this happen.

“Southampton has so much to offer - even more so at this time of year - and we’re looking forward to welcoming more people than ever on-board.”

This group promotion will outlive the national £2 single fare cap, which ends on December 31.

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The cap will continue but instead cost £3, it was announced by the Chancellor Rachel Reeves in her budget last month.

Funding for the promotion comes from the Department for Transport’s Bus Service Improvement Plan which was allocated to the council.

The offer runs while 11 of Bluestar’s services have been forced to divert due to the closure of Bargate Street while the Christmas market is in town.

Buses will not serve Bargate Street, ASDA/Marlands, Civic Centre, West Quay or Holyrood Church until January 10, 2025.