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Post-16 Transport to Education and Training: Transport Policy Statement 2026/27 3. Concessionary fares and other tickets

Public transport assistance

Information is provided by TfWM. All prices quoted are correct as at May 2026.

The main bus operators in Walsall are National Express West Midlands, Arriva, and Diamond.

Walsall borough is in Zones 4 and 5 of the West Midlands rails networks.

Swift

This is a smart card for travel on public transport in the West Midlands. It provides cashless travel across the Network West Midlands area. You select how, when or where you pay for your travel, so whether you want to load it with Pay-As-You-Go credit or a season ticket. You just keep topping up the same card.

16-18 Photocards  

The 16-18 photocard allows students in full-time education to purchase child-rate fares, child season tickets and monthly child direct debit tickets for the bus, metro, or train. These are about half the adult fare. Apply online for a Swift 16-18 Photocard.

You can get your 16-18 photo card by obtaining a Unique Validation Code (UVC) from your school or college in September once you have enrolled. Without this UVC code you will not be able to apply for your 16-18 photo card.

The photo card is free, and the costs of a replacement is £7.50 for the whole academic year (September to July) and entitles you to buy:

  • Child cash fares for travel to and from your school or college only; or 
  • Child season tickets, which are valid for one week, four weeks or a term that can be used at any time, seven days a week: or
  • Monthly child direct debit tickets - the best-value option. 

Child Term tickets and Direct Debit tickets can be bought and used without a valid 16-18 photocard during August and September. You need to show your photo card when you buy single fares, season tickets, and keep it with you while you are travelling.

Eligibility for a 16-18 Photocard

To be eligible you must have been born after August 31st, 2009, and live at a property where Council Tax is paid to Walsall Council.

It is also available in other authorities in the West Midlands including:

  • Birmingham
  • Coventry
  • Dudley
  • Sandwell
  • Solihull
  • Wolverhampton

Student Fares - the network student ticket

You can buy a discounted student ticket if you are over 18 and in full-time education. Or, if you are 16-18 and in full-time education and are not eligible for the 16-18 photo card, you can buy a student ticket.    

Tickets are valid for one term and can be used as many times as you like. There are different options depending on how far you need to travel. 

For example, a network student ticket that gives unlimited travel on regional buses, Rail Zones 1-5 (including Walsall) and the Metro will cost £185 for the summer term.

If you are travelling to and from a college outside the West Midlands, you can pay a supplement to cover any additional rail travel.

You will need proof you’re in full-time education and 2 passport photos (or a jpg passport-style photo if you wish to buy online). You can:

There are some travel concessions that are only for Students with special educational needs, medical needs, or disabilities, as follows:

Disabled Person’s Pass

You may qualify for a free travel pass if your disability is long-term or expected to last at least 12 months. 

The pass is available to blind and other disabled students who are permanently resident in the West Midlands. A free permit is provided for use on bus, rail, and Midland Metro services. It is valid at the following times: 

  • Mondays to Fridays: 09:30 to end of daytime service
  • Weekends and Bank Holidays: Anytime

There are also 'add-on' tickets that can be purchased to allow travel before 09:30.

More information from Network West Midlands

NX West Midlands Scholar's Ticket 

These Scholar’s tickets are not available for retail sale but may be provided for those Students with special educational needs and/or disabilities, through the Council. 

They are valid Monday to Friday term time only and for journeys to/from the school or college. You can use them from start of daytime services up to 0930 and from 1530 up to 1800 and, if in connection with the school or college curriculum, any time up to 2215. 

Students with special educational needs and/or disabilities are also able to obtain a 16-18 photo card and a Network Scholar Season ticket that is valid on any operator’s bus, train, and Metro service within the West Midlands metropolitan area.

For more information contact Walsall Council’s Transport Team: 01922 653761 or 01922 653762.

Apprentices

WorkWise supports  eligible apprentices to overcome barriers to travel within the Network West Midlands area. Workwise travel support offers eligible jobseekers and apprentices 50% off selected NWM and NX bus travel passes for up to 3 months when they start a new job or increase their hours to 16 or more per week if already employed. https://www.networkwestmidlands.com/tickets-and-passes/jobseekers/or Email: workwise@tfwm.org.uk

Bus operators’ tickets

National Express West Midlands – Travel Cards and Term Plus

National Express West Midlands offer a range of tickets for young people between the ages 16-18, so long as they have a TfWM 16-18 photo card. There is also a Direct Debit option that does not require a TfWM 16-18 photo card, just proof from the student’s school or college that they are in full-time education.

Travel cards are available for 1 week, 4 weeks and as Term Plus. They can be used all day, every day, as many times as you want. 

Local Bus Services | NX Bus West Midlands

Diamond Network Termlink

The Network Termlink Student ticket is valid on Diamond buses across the West Midlands and costs £250.00 a term.

nBus Student Passes | Diamond Bus

Arriva

An Arriva West Midlands student ticket offers unlimited travel on Arriva buses only in the county area for £565.00 per academic year.