Copyright walesonline
As children across the country return to school following half term, thousands more young people across Wales will be eligible for cheap bus fares. The new scheme, extended on Monday, November 3, will mean children as young as five can now enjoy £1 bus fares. On September 1, the Welsh Government introduced a new year-long pilot scheme entitling all 16-21-year-olds in Wales to £1 bus fares. Through the scheme, single fares were reduced to £1 and day tickets priced at £3. A f ree mytravelpass is required by 16-21-year-olds to prove their age and take advantage of the cheap fares, but younger children will be able to access cheaper rides without showing a pass. For the biggest stories in Wales first, sign up to our daily newsletter here. While announcing the extension, the Welsh Government revealed that the scheme has already made almost a quarter of a million journeys cheaper, with more than 26,000 young people applying for a mytravelpass since it was introduced. Under new rules introduced on Monday, cheap tickets are available for all journeys which begin or end in Wales for everyone aged from five to 21. It's important to note that on cross border bus services, the discounted ticket will be valid up to and from the first bus stop in England, or on some services to the end of the route, dependent on the bus operator. It does however not yet work with Tap In, Tap Out services so children and young people must make sure to purchase their ticket directly from the driver or before boarding the bus via various ticketing apps. While the scheme is available on all local bus providers across Wales, it is not available on National Express, Megabus, Flix Bus, premium-fare night buses and City Sightseeing buses. In the Welsh Government budget announcement earlier this year, £15m was assigned to the bus pilot scheme with the aim of reducing the burden of the cost-of-living crisis on young people. It is also hoped that the move will help foster more sustainable travel habits. First Minister, Eluned Morgan said: "We are delivering on our promise to cut the cost of travel to help break down barriers, because no young person in Wales should feel cut off or isolated due to the cost of transport. "This investment is already making a real difference to communities all over Wales, but especially in rural areas." Get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here . We occasionally treat members to special offers, promotions and ads from us and our partners. See our Privacy Notice
