West Midlands unveils UK’s biggest free bus travel offer this Christmas
Free weekday evening travel will be available across the West Midlands on all bus services in the lead-up to Christmas, marking an unprecedented initiative of this scale in the UK.
Between Monday 9 December and Friday 13 December, all of the region’s buses will be free to use from 7 pm onwards, with passengers able to simply hop onboard and travel anywhere across the West Midlands bus network.
The offer, from the Mayor of the West Midlands, delivered in partnership with all bus operators across the region, has been designed to encourage people to leave the car at home and avoid the stress and expense of driving and parking during the busy holiday period.
Residents and visitors heading out for some late-night Christmas shopping, a pantomime, or a festive party will not need a ticket or pass during the free travel period, making it even easier and cheaper to enjoy an evening out.
Improving bus services and making transport more accessible to communities across the West Midlands has been a priority for the Mayor since taking office this year.
The free bus travel offer highlights the importance of bus services while supporting the region’s shops, restaurants, pubs, theatres, and concert venues.
It is part of a wider programme to attract first-time and long-absent users onto 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-pandemic.
Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands and WMCA chair, 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 TfWM 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.
The free weekday bus travel scheme is expected to drive a 30 per cent increase in bus passenger journeys.
The success of the scheme will be monitored to explore the potential for similar initiatives in the future.
The initiative is part of the £20 million Passenger Incentive Programme, which is funded from the West Midlands Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP).
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 over 200,000 weeks of travel credit, generating nearly 2 million bus journeys.
