Anyone aged 16 to 19 in Cheshire West can ride local buses for £1 a journey from 5 October. The free pass takes up to 21 days to arrive, so apply now.

Young people aged 16 to 19 who live in Cheshire West and Chester will pay £1 for a single bus journey from Monday 5 October. The council announced the scheme on 17 September. It is called NextGenTravel, and the pass is free to apply for.

The fare works at any time of day, including evenings and weekends. The journey has to be within the borough, or start or end in it. That means a trip from Chester to Ellesmere Port, Northwich or Winsford is covered. So is a ride that starts in Chester and ends somewhere outside the borough.

Applications are already open. The council says passes arrive by post usually within 21 days. Anyone who applies this week should have a pass close to the launch date. Anyone who waits until October will be paying full fare for the first few weeks.

Who can get one

Anyone aged 16 to 19 who lives in the borough can apply. The pass stays valid until the day before the holder’s 20th birthday, or until the end of the trial, whichever comes first.

NextGenTravel is a two-year trial. It is run by the council’s bus Enhanced Partnership, the formal arrangement between the council and the local operators, and it is funded by the government. The council has not said what happens after the two years.

Which buses it works on

The council’s further information page lists seven participating operators:

  • Arriva
  • Stagecoach
  • D&G Buses
  • Warrington’s Own Buses
  • Als Coaches
  • Aintree Coachline
  • M&H Coaches

The pass can also be used on the council’s itravel bus services.

It cannot be used on:

  • trains
  • contracted school buses
  • park and ride

The park and ride exclusion matters most in Chester. A 16 year old who uses park and ride to get into the city will still pay the normal fare on it. Our Chester parking page has the park and ride sites and prices.

How to apply

The application is online, through the council’s NextGenTravel page. The council also says there are QR codes on posters and leaflets across the borough.

You will need:

  • proof of identity and age, such as a provisional or full driving licence photocard, a passport or a birth certificate
  • a clear passport-style photo, which goes on the pass
  • an email address

The council says you will also need internet access and the ability to upload documents and photos.

What it means for you

For a student making two bus journeys every college day, the saving depends on the fare they pay now, and the council has not published any worked figures. The simplest test is the ticket you already buy: if a single costs more than £1, the pass saves money on every trip.

A few practical points:

  • Apply now. The 21-day posting time means a late application misses the first weeks of the scheme.
  • Look after the pass. A lost or damaged pass costs £11 to replace. A stolen one is replaced free if you have a police crime reference number, by emailing Travelcard@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk.
  • Chase a late pass. If it has not arrived within 21 days, the council asks you to email the same address. If you do not, you may be charged for a replacement.
  • Not sure if your stop is in the borough? The council points to its public map viewer.

Councillor Karen Shore, the council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for transport, said travel costs “can be a real barrier for young people”. She said the pass means young people “can travel on buses at any time, across the borough”.

Disabled young people may have a better option. The council’s disabled person’s bus pass gives free travel rather than a discount.

For road closures and rail disruption across the district this week, see our Chester roadworks and travel page.