£1 bus fare for early-bird senior citizens

National Express West Midlands says the move has come in response to feedback from passengers, in particular a campaign by the West Midlands Pensioners' Convention.

The new deal will be introduced from January 2.

About 20 per cent of the West Midlands population is made up of senior citizens - higher than the UK average of 17 per cent. It means more than 500,000 pensioners qualify for the new fare.

National Express has worked with Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), the transport arm of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) to bring in the £1 single fare.

Councillor Roger Lawrence, lead member for transport on the WMCA and leader of Wolverhampton City Council said: "This new £1 single fare will provide an extra helping hand for many older people, especially those on lower incomes, who need to travel by bus earlier in the day."

Walsall councillor Richard Worrall, of the WMCA transport delivery committee, called it a 'significant widening' of the travel options for almost half a million older and disabled citizens.

He called on other bus operators to follow their lead.

Andrea Stanton, of the West Midlands Pensioners’ Convention, said: "This is so important for pensioners who have to get to hospital appointments before 9.30am. You can’t always pick your slot for a hospital appointment or clinic, so this will make those visits so much easier.

“It’ll also help pensioners who help out with family - if you have to get round to take the grandchildren to school, this £1 single fare will be perfect.”

Trevor Eames, also from the West Midlands Pensioners’ Convention, added: "2018 is the 10th anniversary of the bus pass, and we are keen to encourage its greater use.

"We see this as an opportunity for more working pensioners and others needing to make journeys before 9.30am to ditch the car and, for just a £1, travel anywhere across the West Midlands network by bus instead.”