Single fares will cost just £1 and there will be £3 day passes available too. It will allow young people to enjoy unlimited travel with any participating bus services from September 1 for a year.
The Welsh Government will extend the scheme to five to 15-year-olds from November. Existing reduced fares for children will apply until then. Sixteen to 21-year-olds will need to apply for a free mytravelpass, if they don’t currently have one, and will be able to do so from July 21.
More information on how the scheme will work is available at: mytravelpass.tfw.wales
Speaking at the launch event at Newport Bus Station, First Minister, Eluned Morgan will say: “Cutting the cost of travel for young people and providing better transport for all is one of our top priorities. We are delivering our promises to young people across Wales.
“This investment will make a real difference to communities all over Wales, but especially in rural areas.”
Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates will say: “I am delighted to be launching a scheme that offers affordable bus travel for young people to help them access education, training, employment, and leisure, as well as supporting our efforts to encourage more people to use public transport, reduce carbon emissions and tackle poverty.
“As we approach the summer holidays, I want to encourage all those who haven’t signed up for a free mytravelpass to do so from July 21, this will mean they can take advantage of £1 bus fares from September 1.
“I’m also pleased we will be able to extend the scheme to five to 15-years-olds from November.”
£15m is being provided over two financial years (2025-26 and 2026-27) to support £1 bus fares for 16 to 21-year-olds as part of the Budget deal with the Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats Jane Dodds.
Plaid Cymru state that they are glad that the Welsh Government have bowed to pressure.
Plaid Cymru transport spokesperson, Peredur Owen Griffiths shone a light on the issue in April, when he questioned the Cabinet Secretary for Transport on the fact that the pilot originally “excludes the 11 to 15 age group, leaving younger teenagers across Wales paying more to travel than their older peers for exactly the same journeys”, something that was “unfair” according to Mr Owen Griffiths.
Peredur Owen Griffiths, said:“It was only right that Plaid Cymru's calls have been answered on this - the original proposals were absurd, with young people under 15 being left having to pay more to use buses on which they rely so much.
"This unacceptable oversight was a result of desperate last-minute deals from Labour, who were seeking any way to get their unambitious and insufficient Budget through.
"Just as on securing free school meals, here's another example of Plaid Cymru being a driving force in creating progressive policy to support children out of poverty."
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