Bridgend Council is set to withdraw support for dedicated college bus services and will instead fund bus passes for use on existing FirstCymru services in the county (pdf).
FirstCymru is the current contract holder for dedicated bus services to and from Bridgend College. This contract ends on 24th July 2023 and won’t be renewed due to uncertainty over bus funding support from the Welsh Government.
As there wasn’t enough time to put a contract out to tender again, a proposal has been made to buy standard FirstCymru annual student bus passes – which will be a mobile/e-ticket – for the estimated 700 students eligible for free home-college transport in the county.
The cost is estimated to be up to £357,000 a year – which is slightly higher than the current £323,000 college bus contract. However, if students leave college during term time the cost will fall.
Additionally, if students activate their ticket alongside the Welsh Government’s “MyTravelPass” scheme – which offers a 30% discount on bus travel for 16-21-year-olds – the cost to the council will fall to an estimated £236,000.
The problem is that MyTravelPass is voluntary and students can’t be compelled to apply for it, nor does it affect their eligibility for free transport if they don’t apply. BCBC, therefore, intends to work with Bridgend College to promote the benefits of MyTravelPass.
