Free New Year's Day buses welcomed, but future fare pricing still a concern for shoppers in Walsall
The news of free buses across the National Express West Midlands network has been received well by shoppers in Walsall, but concerns still remain over a rise in fares in the new year.
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As a new year approaches, the Mayor of the West Midlands Richard Parker has announced that there will be a completely free bus service all day throughout New Year’s Day.
The New Year's Day planned service follows on from the Mayor’s pre-Christmas offer of a free evening bus service, which saw passenger numbers increase by a third across the region.
Mr Parker said he had launched the offer to encourage people to leave their cars at home and avoid the stress and expense of driving and parking during the busy holiday period, saying it was a small gesture to help make life easier for people when finances are a bit tight.
In general, the region’s bus operators will be running a Sunday timetable service on New Year’s Day from 7am, although some services may end earlier in the evening.
The free bus offer is part of a £20 million incentive programme, funded by the Government through the Bus Service Improvement Plan, to encourage more people to use the bus.
One of the many towns across the region set to benefit from the New Year's Day scheme is Walsall, which was full of shoppers on market day, many of whom were coming into the town by bus at St Paul's Bus Station.
