Archive Council News

10.03.06

Half price bus travel for young people launched in Wrexham

From April 1 2006, young people in North East Wales will be able to travel on buses in the area for half the normal fare.

During a visit to Wrexham Andrew Davies, Minister for Economic Development and Transport was at Yale College to launch the first pilot for a half-fare bus travel scheme for 16 to 18 year olds in Wrexham, Denbighshire and Flintshire and met young people who will be using the scheme.

This innovative scheme builds on the Welsh Assembly Government's highly successful free bus travel for older people and people with disabilities. Since its launch four years ago, more than 530,000 free bus passes have been issued to older people and people with disabilities by local authorities across Wales.

Andrew Davies said: "Developing a scheme for half fare travel for 16-18 year olds is one of the Welsh Assembly Government's Top Ten manifesto commitments, and I am delighted to be in Wrexham to launch the first pilot of this important programme."

"The free travel scheme for older people and people with disabilities has proved a great success. The scheme not only offers susbtantial benefits to pass holders but it has helped to turn around what had been a long-term decline in the number of bus passenger journeys in Wales, and in some cases has resulted in an extension to existing services and the introduction of new ones. I hope this pilot will prove to be as successful.

"Buses are an important part of developing an effective and efficient integrated transport system throughout Wales and this scheme will make bus travel more attractive and increase the number of young people using the bus to get about.

For more information visit the 16218.org website: www.16218.org (external link opens in new window)