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Side of a bus

Working to deliver high quality bus services

Our Bus Grant Delivery Plan builds on the targets and work we have been doing through our Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP). Some of this BSIP work will continue into the financial year 2025/26:

  • Continuation of existing enhanced services (funding increased frequencies on routes 172, m2, T1 and Y1 / Y2)
  • WESTlink (Bookable local transport)
  • WESTlocal (community-led bus schemes)
  • Supported Bus Services – 522 and 525
  • Birthday Bus Scheme – free travel for anyone during their birthday month. Under-21’s also get the following month free.

Additionally, we have secured £13.5m of Bus Grant funding from the Department for Transport. Working with our partners in the Unitary Authorities, we have agreed to focus on these key projects:

Simpler and more affordable fares

These were a key ambition in our BSIP. The following initiatives will all build on this:

  • Care leavers offer extension – free travel for care experienced persons aged 18-21
  • £1 child fare cap – any single bus journey will be £1 or less for anyone under 16
  • Multi-operator day ticket cap – travel on all bus operators in the area, all day, for the capped price of £7
  • Diamond Pass 24/7 (disabled passengers only) – no time restrictions on when disabled pass holders can travel
  • Targeted fares promotions – offers aimed at increasing bus passengers by targeting a specific route, the whole network, or a specific target audience

*On eligible journeys.

Improved information and marketing

These were an integral part of our BSIP as we looked to build a single unified network that was easier to use. We will continue this work with: 

  • Real time information - the addition of new technology at bus stops to provide next bus times with improved accuracy and reliability
  • Passenger information – development of the WEST website with upgrades including improved journey planning and fares information 
  • Minor bus stop upgrades – providing a consistently higher standard of bus stop with a better waiting environment and improved connections to other modes of transport 
  • Communications and marketing – messaging and campaigns to support the other initiatives in making the bus more attractive and easier to use 
Bus services & network development

These were an important part of our BSIP ambition to ensure more people can live without a car, and provide more access to public transport throughout our region. We will continue to develop enhancements to bus services such as:

  • Funding increased frequencies on key routes
  • Providing extra journeys at key times
  • Variations to routes
  • Trials of new services