THE new Swift travel card is to be rolled out to Redditch.
The initiative should be just the ticket for local public transport users as it links up with the rest of the West Midlands network.
It means passengers will be able to not only travel around town but also into Birmingham city centre and beyond with a swipe of their travel card.
The decision to bring Redditch into the fold was made last week at a meeting of the West Midlands Combined Authority, which is already a Swift zone.
The borough is a non-constituency member of the WMCA and borough council leader Councillor Bill Hartnett has been pressing for residents to enjoy the benefits of the region-wide travel card.
“Swift will be dialled in with both Diamond and Johnsons buses and also with the London-Midlands rail service,” said Coun Hartnett.
“For our residents it equals things out across the metropolitan area. It’s definately good news for the town.
“It’s the first step towards people from Redditch enjoying a cheaper, fairer and better system of public transport.”
The benefits for travellers should be immediate – Swift cards will be available to buy and top up online or to purchase from Redditch bus station and at the Alexandra Hospital.
Once they have a card with enough credit passengers will simply be able to ‘tap and go’ without the need to hunt for change.
A journey planner on the website also helps people choose the right times and buses and trains to get to their destination.
“It’s all about making public transport more easy to use and encouraging people to get out of their cars to ease congestion,” said the spokesman.
Swift should be rolled out to Redditch in the autumn. For more on Swift, click here .
