A brand new ticket has been launched offering young people, aged between 19 and 21, a massive 35 per cent discount on public transport throughout South Yorkshire.
The 19 – 21 TravelMaster has been specially designed by transport operators and South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE) - through the Travel South Yorkshire partnership - to give young workers a helping hand. It is aimed at school and college leavers starting out in the world of work.
The cost of a weekly ticket is £13.50 (standard price is £20.75) and a monthly ticket is £49.50 (standard price is £77.25). This means young people can travel on any bus, tram or train across South Yorkshire, regardless of the operator, for less than £2 per day.
To mark the launch of the new ticket there will be a ‘Buy One - Get One Free’ special offer on all 19 – 21 weekly TravelMasters. From Wednesday 20 February 2008 the first five people in every Travel South Yorkshire Information Centre to purchase a 19 -21 weekly TravelMaster will be given another ticket for free.
Talking about the product Duncan Roberts, Chairman of TravelMaster and BOSSY (Bus Operators Serving South Yorkshire) said: “We believe the 19 – 21 TravelMaster is the first ticket of its kind in the UK to give reduced travel to young people who are making the transition from school and college into the work place.
“All school children across South Yorkshire receive concessions on public transport but at the moment this can stop when a young person reaches their 16th birthday if they do not continue in formal education.
“Whilst we have a TravelMaster for those aged 16-18, we appreciate many 19 year olds are not earning full adult wages so this ticket has been introduced to bridge the gap up to their 21st birthday. It will hopefully make travelling on public transport cheaper and easier.”
John Smart, Chief Financial & Systems Officer at SYPTE said: “The new TravelMaster ticket is flexible, convenient and will help thousands of people across South Yorkshire save money. Along with our partners we are working hard to encourage more people to use public transport and flexible ticketing options such as the TravelMaster that will help us achieve this.”
The new ticket is also being heavily supported by the business community.
Helen Rana, Policy and Representation Manager at Sheffield Chamber of Commerce, said: “We support every initiative which makes it easier for people to get to work. We hope this new ticket will be a big help for young workers in our city, saving them money on their travel."
The 19 – 21 TravelMaster can be purchased from any Travel South Yorkshire Information Centre across South Yorkshire, all customers need to take with them on the day for their first purchase is a passport photo and proof of their age.
19 - 21 TravelMaster will be available from the following Travel South Yorkshire Information Centres across South Yorkshire:
- Interchange (Barnsley)
- Duke Street (Doncaster)
- Doncaster Interchange inside Frenchgate Shopping Centre (Doncaster)
- Rotherham Interchange (Rotherham)
- Arundel Gate (Sheffield)
- Cambridge Street (Sheffield)
- Meadowhall Interchange (Sheffield)
- Sheffield Interchange (Sheffield)
To find out more about any of the TravelMaster tickets visit Travel South Yorkshire – travelsouthyorkshire.com or call Traveline on 01709 51 51 51.
SYPTE and all public transport operators in South Yorkshire are members 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. For more information visit travelsouthyorkshire.com
If you would like more information please contact Julia Price, Senior Communications Officer on 0114 221 1413 or email juliap@sypte.co.uk