Young people continuing with their studies in the next academic year are being urged to think about how they are going to get to school and college in September.
Anyone aged between 16 and 18, who lives in South Yorkshire and is in full time education, is entitled to a Student Pass. This allows travel at a reduced rate on public transport across South Yorkshire. The fare is 40p on buses and trams and half price on Northern trains.
To apply for a pass, students simply need to pick up an application form from any Travel South Yorkshire Information Centre or from their school or college. They can also be downloaded from the Travel South Yorkshire website – travelsouthyorkshire.com
The completed form will need to be attached to a recent photograph with confirmation from the school or college that they will be attending from September.
The form can then be handed back to any Travel South Yorkshire Information Centre or posted to South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE) at Student Pass Application, PO Box 801, Exchange Street, Sheffield, S2 5YT. All passes will be posted out from late August. To qualify for the pass students must have been born between 01/09/1989 and 31/08/1991.
Margaret Hodgson, from SYPTE said: “We understand that during the summer the last thing students are thinking about is returning to their studies but we are urging them to apply for their passes now so it is ready for them at the start of term.
“Applying for the pass is easy, and having one will save you money from September.”
She added: "The Student Pass being issued this academic year has been redesigned and is now in a plastic format, which is more hard wearing and won’t fall to pieces in the washing machine!"
The new system also makes it easier if the pass needs to be replaced, as the application photograph will be electronically captured and used for any reissued passes.
Concessionary fares for young people in education are funded by South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority and are administered by SYPTE. Every year approximately 16,000 student passes are issued across South Yorkshire.
For more information call SYPTE Traveline on 01709 51 51 51 or visit the Travel South Yorkshire website.
SYPTE is a member of the Travel South Yorkshire partnership.
The aim of the partnership is to bring public transport together, encourage more people to use it, make it easier to understand and deliver new, innovative public transport products and services.
Travel South Yorkshire is the new identity of the public transport network in South Yorkshire.