REDDITCH has become the first non-constituent town in the West Midlands to roll out a new smart travelcard, which makes bus travel easier and cheaper.

Thousands of bus users in Redditch are now able to use the ‘Swift’ card - West Midlands’ own smart travelcard - on all Diamond and Johnsons bus services in the town.

Users pay cheaper fares than with cash and there are a range of products to suit people’s needs, such as a pay-as-you go option, or one or four-week season tickets.

Cllr Bill Hartnett, leader of Redditch Borough Council, said: “I am delighted that Redditch is the first town where Swift has been rolled out for bus passengers beyond the West Midlands metropolitan area.

“It is particularly important when you consider how many people living in towns like Redditch travel into Birmingham, Coventry, Wolverhampton, and the Black Country.

“Public transport plays a vital role in getting people to where they want to go, so the more we can make it easier for people to leave their cars at home, free up road space and ease pollution and congestion the better.”

Swift is run by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).

Although not a full constituent member of the WMCA, Redditch has non-constituent status.

Cllr Roger Lawrence, lead member for transport for the WMCA, said: “Swift has grown spectacularly in a short period of time, with 3.5 million journeys per month meaning it is already the largest travel card outside London.

“With new opportunities to use Swift in and around Redditch and on Diamond services in the Black Country, even more people can now benefit from using this revolutionary ticketing system.”

The cards are obtained online and can be topped up via the Swift app, or from collector machines located at Redditch bus station and the town’s Alexandra Hospital.

Staff from TfWM will be in the Kingsfisher shopping centre in Redditch on Saturday, February 17, to explain how Swift will work.

They will also be giving out free Swift pay-as-you-go cards with £5 credit to the first 100 people to visit the stand, which will be there from 10am to 2pm.