Changes to fares in the Diamond East Midlands Region

11 March 2026

From 1st April Diamond Bus East Midlands will no longer be part of the UK Government Bus Fare Cap Scheme.

In this voluntary scheme, the Government provides reimbursement to bus operators for capping their single bus fares at a maximum of £3 per journey. However, for Diamond East Midlands the current funding level available is proving to be lower than the reimbursement level needed to viably remain part of this scheme.

Diamond are working hard to improve performance across the East Midlands & Staffordshire area, with significant company investment in new vehicles and depot infrastructure providing long-term benefits to achieving a more reliable and sustainable network of services for the region. 

As part of a recent fare restructure, we have lowered or frozen the cost of most of our Zone B products to continue to make travel across our network affordable, and these recent changes will stay in place and will not change.

However, the cost of an Adult Single will increase to a flat fare of £4, and a Child Single will increase to a flat fare of £3 from 1st April. The Concessionary Pre-09:30 Twirlybird ticket will remain in-line with Child Single fares before 09:30 am.

Like many business sectors, the bus industry continues to feel the pressure of increasing operational costs such as fuel prices and energy costs and increased staffing costs. We have to address these growing costs in order to continue providing a sustainable bus network for the region - but despite these changes we are still able to provide some of the lowest fares across the region*.

Diamond Bus to Accept Staffordshire Knot Tickets

From the same date, we are pleased to confirm that both Diamond Bus East Midlands and Diamond Bus West Midlands will return to the Staffordshire Knot ticket scheme. 

The Knot ticket scheme, provides a unified Multi-Operator ticket option across the Staffordshire region. With tickets valid on a wide number of participating Bus Operators, the Knot ticket means that customers do not need to pay multiple fares to travel on different operators services…. It’s simply One Ticket, and One Price. From 1st April, the cost of an Adult Knot Day ticket will be £8.50 and an Adult Knot Week ticket will be introduced at £30.00, it is anticipated that a range of child ticket will also be launched in future, which Diamond will also accept when available.

Returning to Knot ticket scheme, reflects our commitment to working in partnership with Staffordshire County Council to support the development of a strong and robust bus network for the community, by offering better value for our customers across the wider regional network. 

Staffordshire Knot tickets will be available to buy onboard Diamond buses and will be accepted on all our services within the Staffordshire Knot region from 1st April.

For further details and valid areas, please visit the Staffordshire Knot Webpage here:
https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/roads-parking-and-transport/public-transport-and-travel-passes/plan-your-journey/knot-bus-ticket 

Our recently revised Zone B fares will remain the same:

*How we compare to other East Midlands Regional Bus Fares...

Based on comparative products from other operators in the East Midlands.
Price comparisons based on March 2026 Arriva/Trent Barton fares:

Please note:

There are no changes to the Wayfarer Derbyshire County Multi-Operator tickets scheme.
There are no changes to the B-line card which allows young people to get £1.50 max single fares on Diamond buses in Derbyshire County.

This changes does not apply to Diamond Bus West Midlands & Worcestershire or Diamond Bus South East, who remain part of the Bus Fare Scheme.