Passengers in Somerset, including on bus routes serving Pilton, Castle Cary, and Bruton, have been travelling for free due to the lack of contactless payment options.

The council's transport portfolio holder confirmed that nearly 30 routes are affected, leading to significant financial losses.

Councillor Diogo Rodrigues voiced his concern at a full council meeting in Bridgwater on 27 September. He said: "It was concerning to learn recently about the potential loss of over £100 a day on the Somerset Council operated 68 bus service from Yeovil bus station, as a result of allowing passengers on for free due to not having a contactless payment service."

Among the council-operated routes that are affected are:

• 3 (Taunton town service, serving Bishops Hull)
• 5 (Babcary to Yeovil – Wednesdays only)
• 8 (Pilton to Yeovil – Thursdays only)
• 9 (Crewkerne to Donyatt)
• 12 (Taunton town service, serving Monkton Heathfield)
• 18 (Ilminster to South Petherton – Tuesdays and Fridays only)
• 19 (Bridgwater to Street – college days only, morning and afternoon journeys only)
• 22B (Taunton to West Buckland – one journey, weekdays)
• 30 (Frome town service)
• 34 (Bruton to Charlton Hawthorne – school days, afternoon journey only)
• 39 (Bruton to Yeovil – Fridays only)
• 44 (Over Stratton to Yeovil)
• 48 (Burnham-on-Sea to Cheddar – Tuesdays and Fridays only)
• 56B (West Coker to Yeovil – one journey a day)
• 67 (Burnham-on-Sea to Wedmore)
• 68 (Yeovil town service – serving the town's two railway stations)
• 81A (Yeovil to Stanchester Academy – school days, morning and afternoon journeys only)
• 667 (Wincanton to Castle Cary – one journey a day)
• F (Bridgwater town service)
• S1 – S3 (Ilminster shuttle service)

Additionally, several council-subsidised routes are also impacted, such as:

• 10 (Porlock to Minehead – run by AtWest)
• 11C (Minehead town service – run by Ridlers)
• 56 (West Coker to Yeovil – run by Community Transport South West)
• 62 (Weston-super-Mare to Bridgwater College – college days only, run by Bakers Dolphin)
• 66 (Axbridge to Bridgwater College – college days only, run by Bakers Dolphin)
• 67 (Wedmore to Wookey Hole – run by Mendip Community Transport)
• 196 (Glastonbury tour bus – April to September, run by Mendip Community Transport)
• 198 (Dulverton to Minehead – run by AtWest)
• 665 (Kingweston to Yeovil – run by Mendip Community Transport)

Councillor Mike Rigby stated, "It is not possible to identify the number of passengers being permitted to travel for free due to the issue with contactless payments." He mentioned that the council has been working tirelessly to resolve the problem but did not specify when a solution would be implemented.

The council recently received £737,079 from the Department for Transport for bus service improvements but has not yet revealed how it will allocate the funds. Passengers are currently advised to bring cash for their journeys and keep an eye out for updates from Somerset Council's transport department.