All weekday evening bus journeys free for a week in run-up to Christmas, West Midlands Mayor announces
The Mayor of the West Midlands has announced that weekday evening bus travel will be free on all services across the West Midlands for one week in the run-up to Christmas.
Richard Parker has announced that free weekday evening travel is being offered on all bus services across the West Midlands between December 9 and December 13.
All buses will be free to use from 7pm onwards, with passengers able to simply hop onboard and travel anywhere across the West Midlands bus network.
The offer, delivered in partnership with all bus operators across the region, has been designed to encourage people to leave cars at home and avoid the stress and expense of driving and parking during the busy holiday period.
It is part of a wider programme to attract first-time and long absent users on to the bus network to help tackle congestion on the region’s roads, while supporting the bus industry’s recovery from a fall in passenger numbers and increased fuel and running costs post-Covid.
Mr Parker said: “From day one, I said that making the bus network better for the people of the West Midlands was one of my top priorities and this offer shows we, in partnership with our bus operators, are taking this challenge seriously by being the only region in the country taking these exciting steps to make a difference.
“So many of us will be heading out for parties, meals, stage shows and late-night shopping trips this Christmas.
"But it can be an expensive time of year, and I hope this free travel offer can help people save a few pounds, make their money go further and see the benefit of travelling by bus while visiting their local high streets and enjoying what our region has to offer this festive season.”
Staff from Transport for West Midlands and National Express West Midlands will be on hand at key city centre locations to help customers and make sure the scheme runs smoothly during the week.
Antony Goozee, bus strategy and commercial director for National Express West Midlands, said: “Buses continue to be the most popular form of public transport here in the West Midlands and we are committed to working in partnership with the Mayor and Transport for West Midlands to drive continual improvements for passengers, while encouraging people to consider ditching their cars and switching to more sustainable travel choices.
“More people using buses is good for the economy, good for the environment and good for wider society and this exciting free travel offer is one of the ways that we’re working together to make it even cheaper and easier for people to travel by bus - there’s never been a better time to get onboard.”
The initiative is part of the £20 million Passenger Incentive Programme which is funded from the West Midlands Bus Service Improvement Plan.
It aims to encourage people to try bus travel for the first time or return after a period of absence, to support a passenger-led recovery of the local bus network.
The Passenger Incentive Programme has already distributed more than 200,000 weeks of travel credit, generating nearly 2 million bus journeys.
For more information visit www.tfwm.org.uk/freebustravel.
