Under 16s could pay more for buses than older teens

Plans to discount bus travel for young people in Wales have been botched, according to Plaid Cymru.

As part of its budget deal with the Liberal Democrats, the Welsh government announced a trial scheme to cap single bus fares at £1 for 16-21 year olds.

But Plaid says it will put younger people at a disadvantage with the cap not applying to under-16s.

Transport Secretary Ken Skates said negotiations are underway with the bus industry to ensure young people do not have to pay more than the cap.

He said that "ideally" bus companies would contribute to ensure tickets for younger bus users, but that this had not been confirmed.

Single fares in Cardiff, Swansea and Newport for five to 15-year-olds are all currently higher than the planned cap.

Peredur Owen Griffiths, Plaid Cymru transport spokesperson, said the party agreed with the principle of the scheme but that it showed "all the signs of a botched job, designed in haste to pass this Labour Welsh government's unambitious budget".

"Under the new system, learners travelling to schools will be at a disadvantage to 16-21 years olds," he said.

Currently, fares in Cardiff for five to 15-year-olds are £1.70 for a single journey anywhere in the city and £1.40 for the shortest journey within a local zone, such as Ely.

In Newport, a child aged 5 five to 15 pays £1.70 for any single journey in the city. In Swansea on First Bus, they pay between £1.10 and £2 depending on distance.

Under the pilot, from September 16-21 year olds will pay £1 for all single fares, and £3 for unlimited all-day tickets.

Plaid says it wants learner travel laws updated so that 11-15 year-olds travelling to school are not disadvantaged.

In the Senedd on Wednesday, Skates told the Senedd: "We are still in negotiations with the industry to ensure that young people that do not benefit from our £1 flat fair don't have to pay more."

Later, in response to questions from Owen Griffiths, he added: "Ideally, bus operators will at least contribute to reducing the cost of fares for under-16s.

"But this is yet to be confirmed and that's why negotiations are ongoing.

"We intend to bring those negotiations to a satisfactory conclusion as soon as possible and certainly in time for the scheme's introduction."

Later, in a statement, Ken Skates said: "We absolutely reject these claims. It was always the plan to develop the scheme in partnership with operators, which includes looking at fares for 11–15-year-olds, and that work is already underway.

"We recognise that with any new scheme being developed there are challenges, but we are working hard to bring real and meaningful change to young people."