Welsh Government Introduces Free Bus Travel Scheme for Refugees - ‘Welcome Ticket’.

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The free travel scheme will run from 26 March until 30 September.

The scheme provides unlimited travel on :

• All participating local bus services
• Transport for Wales rail services across Wales
• Bus and train services that cross into England if starting or finishing in Wales

To understand more about taking part in the scheme, the eligibility requirements and participating bus operators, you can find the available Terms & Conditions below.

 

Scheme title

Scheme brand

Description

Eligibility

Geographical limits

Times of operation

Types of journey

Ticket discount and restrictions

Transferability

Application of discount on bus

Rules and regulations

Scheme duration

Application window

Card issue

Exclusions

Fraudulent use

Changes to Terms and Conditions

List of participating bus companies

 

 

Scheme title

The Wales Free Bus Travel for Refugees Scheme, hereafter will be referred to as ‘the scheme’.

 

Scheme brand

The scheme brand for all public communication is the ‘Welcome Ticket’.

 

Description

The scheme provides eligible persons with free unlimited travel on all local bus services provided by participating bus companies across Wales under 'List of participating bus companies', including those that operate into England where your journey starts or finishes in Wales.

The proof of eligibility required to access free bus travel as defined is listed under 'Eligibility' below.

The offer is completely separate to the current pilot scheme in place for Asylum Seekers.

 

Eligibility

The scheme is available for all refugees seeking safe haven in Wales in line with our Nation of Sanctuary vision on production of one of the following:

• Valid passport (Ukrainian refugees only) until processed through the Home Office
• Letter issued by the Home Office / Message from Rt Hon Priti Patel MP
• Biometric British Residence Permit (BRP) marked that someone is a ‘Refugee’, has ‘HP’ or ‘Humanitarian Protection’
• Anyone else who can present a BRP which does not include those phrases but accompanied by a letter or email which says they have been granted refugee status / Humanitarian protection.

Sample examples of Biometric British Residence Permit (BRP); Vignette and immigration officer clearance stamp example:

 

Immigration officer clearance stamp example

 

Geographical limits

Free bus travel on production of valid proof (Eligibility) will be available on local bus services operating wholly within Wales or where the trip originates or terminates in Wales. 

 

Times of operation

There are no restrictions on the time during which free bus travel will be provided on production of valid proof as defined under heading 4 of this document.

 

Types of journey

There are no restrictions on the type of journey purpose for which free bus travel is provided.

 

Ticket discount and restrictions

There are no restrictions.

 

Transferability

Free bus travel is for use by the named individual under the terms of eligibility as per (Eligibility) of this document and is not transferable, but will cover a family unit travelling together including children.

Any refugee children that are accessing primary or secondary education in Wales will still need to apply to the relevant local authority for transport if eligible.

Free bus travel will be withdrawn if misused / used by anyone other than the person(s) eligible and may result in criminal proceedings.

 

Application of discount on bus

The user is required to present their proof of Eligibility to the bus driver when boarding a bus to obtain the relevant discount. Persons unable to present proof of eligibility will not be eligible to free travel and will be required to pay the full stated fare.

Bus company representatives retain the right to inspect proof of eligibility as a part of the verification process and reducing fraud.

 

Rules and regulations

Each bus company’s rules and regulations apply when free travel is made on production of proof of eligibility and/or other ticketing.

 

Scheme duration

The scheme will commence on 26 March 2022 and continue initially for a six month period until 30 September 2022 to enable a review to ensure that it continues to provide the intended benefits and that remains affordable and deliverable.

Further information in relation to the scheme will be made following review and in sufficient time before the end of the six month period.

 

Application window

There is no application window as the user will produce the proof of eligibility required to participate in the scheme to the bus driver when boarding the bus for immediate free travel on local bus services in Wales.

 

Card issue

This scheme will not involve the issue of any specific travel cards to the user. Those eligible for free travel will be required to conform to the requirements of eligible proof as listed under 'Eligibility' of this document. Those eligible for free travel will be issued with the ‘Welcome Ticket’ zero value travel ticket from the bus driver when boarding on the bus for the journey being made.

 

Exclusions

Free travel is not valid on long distance coach services provided by National Express and Stagecoach Megabus.

For details about these services including times please use the following contact information:

National Express: Contact Us

Stagecoach MegaBus: Making Travel Simple

Proof of eligibility under (Eligibility) of this document does not entitle or guarantee carriage on any bus service at any time, or give rise to expectation of the continuation of existing services or provision of new services.

Individual operator conditions of carriage also apply for journeys made.

 

Fraudulent use

The scheme is only available to those eligible through the production of valid proof as listed under 'Eligibility' of the scheme’s terms and conditions to the bus driver when boarding the bus. Fraudulent use will result in free transport being withdrawn immediately to the individual(s) in question and will be reported to the relevant authorities and may lead to prosecution.

 

Changes to Terms and Conditions

The Terms and Conditions of this scheme may be subject to change. Any changes will be reflected in updated Terms and Conditions made available.

 

List of participating bus companies

The bus companies that are participating in this voluntary scheme are listed below. This list will increase as further scheme coverage develops and will be updated accordingly.

 

Operator name	Region in Wales
Newport Bus	South East Wales (Monmouthshire, Newport)
South Wales Transport	South Wales (Neath Port Talbort)
Stagecoach South Wales	South East Wales (Cwmbran, Cardiff, Newport, Powys)
Pembrokeshire Passenger Transport	South West Wales (Pembrokeshire)
Jones Login	South West Wales (Carmarthenshire)
Phil Anslow Coaches	South East Wales (Cwmbran, Monmouthshire)
Arriva Buses Wales	North Wales (across all North Wales counties)
Harris Coaches	South Wales (Blackwood)
Trovol Community Transport	South Wales
Connect2	South East Wales (Caerphilly)
Llew Jones International	North Wales (Conwy, Gwynedd)
Richard Bros	West Wales (Ceredigion)
Henleys Bus Services Ltd	South Wales (Blaenau Gwent)
Mid Wales Travel	Mid Wales (Aberystwyth)
First Cymru	South Wales (Bridgend/Swansea)
M&H Coaches	North Wales (Denbighshire)
Arriva Midlands	North East Wales (Wrexham/Oswestry)
P&O Lloyd	North East Wales (Denbighshire/Flintshire)
Stagecoach	North East Wales (Wrexham)
Townlynx	North East Wales (Denbighshire/Flintshire)
Lloyds Coaches	North/Mid Wales (Ceredigion/Gwynedd/Powys)
Cardiff Bus	South Wales (Cardiff)
Cwm Taf Valley Coaches	South East Wales (Carmarthenshire)
Edwards Bros	South East Wales (Carmarthenshire)
Sarah Bell Minibuses	South East Wales (Carmarthenshire)
Gwynfor Coaches	North West Wales (Anglesey/Gwynedd)
O.R.Jones a'i Feibion	North West Wales (Anglesey)
Lewis Y Llan	North West Wales (Anglesey)
Dansa Ltd	South East Wales (Neath Port Talbot/Swansea)
Goodsir Coaches Daughters & Son	North West Wales (Anglesey)
Morris Travel Ltd	South East Wales (Carmarthenshire)
Adventure Travel Ltd	South Wales (Cardiff)
Owen’s of Oswestry Coaches Ltd	Mid Wales (Powys)
S.P. Cars	Mid Wales (Powys)
Sargeants Brothers Ltd	Mid Wales (Powys)
Tanat Valley Coaches	Mid Wales (Powys)
Select Local Bus	South Wales (Neath Port Talbot)
Adventure Travel	South Wales (Cardiff)
Dilwyn’s Coaches	North West Wales (Gwynedd)
Edwards Coach Holidays	South Wales (Rhondda Cynon Taf)
Pembrokeshire Voluntary Transport	South West Wales (Pembrokeshire)
Easyway Minibus Hire Ltd	South Wales (Vale of Glamorgan)