Wales Unveils £1 Youth Bus Travel in £100m Budget Deal

Young people aged 21 and under will be able to travel anywhere in Wales by bus for just £1 from September 2025, as part of a landmark £100m budget agreement between Welsh Labour and Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Jane Dodds.

The pilot scheme, running for one academic year, will offer unlimited travel for £3 and forms part of wider investment plans including universal childcare expansion and local council funding boosts.

“The additional investment will make a real difference to communities across Wales, particularly in rural areas,” said Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford.

Jane Dodds added: “This agreement is a positive step in making Wales the fairer and more prosperous country I want it to be.”

Key points from the £26bn spending package include:

• £30m for universal childcare, increasing provider rates to £6.40 per hour
• £8.24m ensuring minimum 3.8% funding increase for nine local authorities
• £5m for playground improvements
• £5m for water quality initiatives
• £10m supporting council borrowing for road repairs
• Restoration of the fifth Heart of Wales line train service

The Welsh Conservatives criticised the plans, with shadow cabinet secretary Sam Rowlands stating the budget was not addressing “the people’s priorities, with woeful outcomes like excessive waiting lists and low educational standards speaking for themselves.”