East Midlands Fare Changes March 2026

East Midlands Fare Changes

06 February 2026

Derbyshire Leicestershire Staffordshire

From March 1st, there will be some changes to Diamond Bus fares in the Staffordshire & East Midlands region.

As part of this fare change, the cost of an adult single bus journey will continue to remain affordable at a Maximum of £3 on all Diamond Bus services.

The zonal ticketing products of Burton & Lichfield Zone will be withdrawn. By doing this we are removing the current boundary restrictions and complications and we are simplifying the ticket range.

In order to achieve better value for passengers, we will be either freezing or reducing the prices of many of our existing Zone B products, which will provide some great benefits to passengers.

Whilst we understand that for those passengers using our Burton & Lichfield tickets, there will be some cost increase, the move to the Zone B range will provide increased value for money by allowing passengers access to much wider unlimited travel around the Diamond network.

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*.

Single Tickets Still Only £3 Max.

Diamond Bus will remain part of the Government Fare Cap Scheme which continues to provide a Max £3 per single journey price freeze until 2027.

Save More with Day and Season Tickets.

Even though some passengers will see an increase, you can still save on multiple journeys when you buy a day ticket or season ticket.

In order to get the best value fare, you may find our season ticket options will provide better value for the type of journeys you make. 

If you make more than two journeys per day within our East Midlands Network our Day, Week or Monthly tickets, may offer better value than the two single fares under the fare cap scheme.

See below for a full list of our revised fares from 1st March: 

Network Zone B

Current

New Price

 

Adult Single

£3.00 

£3.00 

Frozen

Adult Network Zone B Day 

£7.00 

£6.50 

Reduced

Adult Network Zone B Week 

£28.00 

£28.00 

Frozen

Adult Network Zone B 4-Week 

£95.00 

£95.00 

Frozen

Adult Network Zone B Annual 

£840.00 

£950.00 

Increase

 

 

 

 

Child Single

£2.50

£2.50 

Frozen

Child Network Zone B Day 

£5.80 

£5.50 

Reduced

Child Network Zone B Week 

£25.00 

£23.50 

Reduced

Child Network Zone B 4-Week 

£87.00 

£82.00 

Reduced

Child Network Zone B Term 

£320.00 

£320.00 

Frozen

Child Network Zone B Annual 

£850.00 

£850.00 

Frozen

 

 

 

 

Duo Network Zone B Day 

£12.50 

£11.70 

Reduced

Group Network Zone B Day 

£17.50 

£17.50 

Frozen

 

 

 

 

Child JTFS  Day

£5.80 

£5.50 

Reduced

Child JTFS Week

£25.00 

£23.50 

Reduced

Child JTFS 4-Week

£87.00 

£82.00 

Reduced

Burton Zone Range
Lichfield Zone Range

Products Removed Customers will have a 1-month period until 1st April to use up any existing / pre-purchased tickets on-board

*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 current 2026 Arriva/Trent Barton fares:

Arriva East Midlands
Adult Day £8.60

>

Diamond Equivalent

>

Network Zone B 
Adult Day £6.50

Trent Barton Zone ABC
Adult 28-days £138

>

Diamond Equivalent

>

Network Zone B
Adult 4-Week £95

Trent Barton Zig-Zag
Child Day £6.30

>

Diamond Equivalent

>

Network Zone B
Child Day £5.50

 

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