Written question WQ88745
- Asked by
- Laura Anne JonesConservative
- To be answered by
- Minister for Climate Change
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 8 days
Question
What consideration has the Welsh Government given to addressing the impact of contactless transactions across public transport upon elderly and disabled people?
Answer
Answered by Deputy Minister for Climate Change
Our Mandatory Concessionary Fare scheme means that all people over the aged of 60; and many people with a disability can travel for free across our bus network and get discounted or free travel on many rail services.
Transport for Wales appreciate the need to ensure there are a range of payment options for those wishing to travel by rail. They accept payment by cash at ticket offices and with conductors on trains. They have partnered with Payzone to offer the ability to buy train tickets using cash at local convenience stores in south Wales and this has recently been extended to the Wrexham area.
The Pay As You Go (PAYG) pilot in the South East Wales Metro area will initially be launched using contactless bank cards only as the token to travel. As part of this initial pilot all pre-existing mechanisms of paying for and obtaining tickets for travel will be maintained in parallel.
Choices around method of payment are a matter for individual bus operators to consider. Cash however is accepted on Welsh Government bus services such as the Traws Cymru and Fflecsi and recent innovative ticketing products such as the 1Bws ticket in north Wales can also be purchased using cash.