By Gurdip Thandi

Copyright expressandstar

West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker announced parents will be offered free travel during half-term this month to help cut the cost of keeping children occupied whilst they were off school.

This is the latest scheme which forms part of the £20 million passenger incentive programme funded by Government through the Bus Service Improvement Plan. It’s aim is to encourage more people to use buses.

A spokesperson for Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) said nine million individual journeys have been made on the region’s buses as a result of various initiatives.

These include free evening travel in the run up to Christmas to support the night time economy, free travel for hospital staff, care leavers, apprentices and charities and work with large employers to encourage staff to use buses.

For the latest scheme, parents and carers can apply for a Swift travel card pre-loaded with free bus travel between Monday, October 27 and Sunday, November 2.

Those who take up the free deal will also be offered a 25 per cent discount on a further week’s free travel.

Mr Parker said: “At a time when family budgets are stretched, I am delighted to offer a free half-term on the buses.

“This will make it cheaper, easier and greener to take the kids out for the day – perhaps for Halloween or even a fireworks display.

“And while we do that, we are busy bringing our buses back under public control, improving services and creating a transport system that works better for everyone.”

The offer is available for new and lapsed bus users travelling with a child. Applications will be open from Monday, October 6 through the TfWM website.

People who have applied will then be contacted via email with information on how to redeem the free bus travel offer to your Swift account.