Industry bodies have welcomed the Welsh Government’s plans for a scheme offering £1 single bus fares and £3 day tickets to under-22s in Wales.
The year-long pilot for 16-21-year-olds is due to start in September and was revealed in the final 2025-26 budget published yesterday in the Senedd.
The sum of £15 million has been allocated to cover its implementation up until the end of the next financial year.
That figure broadly covers the difference in overall bus services support allocation for the upcoming year, set at £140.5 million – up from £123.337 million in 2024-25.
Aaron Hill, CPT Cymru Director, says: “This initiative is long overdue: until today, Wales was the only nation in Great Britain with no national scheme to reduce fares for bus users.
“Every pound invested in bus services brings £4.55 of benefits to the environment, the health of the nation and to communities.
“Bus operators look forward to working with the Welsh Government to ensure that this scheme can be delivered successfully, is financially sustainable, and that taxpayers get the best possible value for money.”
The UK government has funded a single fare cap scheme in England since the beginning of 2023, while the Scottish Government’s free bus travel for under-22s began in 2022.
The charity Bus Users UK also supports the Welsh pilot.
Barclay Davies, Bus Users UK Director for Wales, says: “The cost-of-living crisis has had a devastating impact on families across Wales, particularly in rural areas.
“Transport can offer a vital lifeline out of poverty through education, training and employment.
“This initiative will not only make it easier for young people to access life’s opportunities, it will also ensure they can make more sustainable travel choices, reducing congestion and improving air quality for everyone.”
