Cheaper bus fares in Black Country is ‘discrimination’

BRUMMIES are facing discrimination over bus fares as Black Country neighbours are offered cheaper tickets, a passenger lobby group has claimed.

West Midlands Campaign for Better Transport (WMCBT) has hit out at cut-price tickets offered by National Express West Midlands (NXWM) in the new Black Country low fare zone.

It pointed out that Black Country residents on the Birmingham boundary, such as in Bearwood, Smethwick and Great Barr are not in the low fare area. A Black Country day-saver is £3 compared to £4.60 for Birmingham.

The group has also attacked the existing travel card discrimination as regular commuters from Coventry and the Black Country can buy cut-price cards for their own area costing £11 per week, whereas Birmingham residents can only get the region-wide travel card at £17.50.

WMCBT spokesman Kevin Champman said: “I’m pleased that National Express West Midlands had launched the low fare zone, but it throws up a number of issues.

“Rather than the boundary in the Sandwell area being that of the council area, NXWM has decided it will be the M5 which cuts right through the middle of Sandwell.

“The result is that someone travelling from Wednesbury, Great Bridge or Rowley Regis into West Bromwich can benefit from the cheap fares whilst a passenger travelling from Bearwood, Smethwick or Great Barr to West Bromwich cannot.

“That does not seem right and someone with the special ticket, thinking they could use it across Sandwell could end up out of pocket with a £35 penalty fare.”

“It is also time there was a travelcard for Birmingham services only.

“The technology is there with the Swift smartcard and mobile apps on which lots of different products can be included. There are plenty of Brummie bus passengers who never set foot in the Black Country.”

The group is now calling on National Express West Midlands to look at ending this discrimination against Brummie passengers.

Asked about the differences, National Express West Midlands said Black Country journeys tend to be shorter, hence the lower cost.

A spokeswoman said: “Bus travel patterns are different in different parts of the West Midlands. The journeys tend to be shorter than in other parts of the region.

“So we wanted to make it easier for our Black Country passengers to ‘pay local to stay local’ and visit local shops and attractions using the bus.”