NHS staff can get free travel on all buses and trams in the West Midlands as they go to work to battle the coronavirus pandemic.
Local bus operators and West Midlands Metro have teamed up to allow anyone working in hospitals and frontline medical facilities to travel for free when showing their NHS pass.
Many extra NHS staff are being brought in to help deal with the emergency.
Far fewer people are using public transport in the ‘lockdown’ and some services has been scaled back.
The NHS worker pass scheme applies for buses operated by National Express West Midlands, Diamond, Landflight and Claribel, Banga, Coventry Community Transport, Evergreen (Thandi), Johnsons, Kev’s Cars, Select Bus, Travel De Courcey and Walsall Community Transport as well as West Midlands Metro services.
Children of key workers travelling to school are also eligible for free travel on production of their personalised letter allowing them to continue to attend school during this period.
The free travel offer comes after Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), which
is part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), launched free shuttle bus services for NHS and social care staff serving key locations.
Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street said: “We want to do as much as we
can to support our NHS workers at this difficult time, and I am delighted that our bus companies and the Midland Metro have stepped up to offer free services.
“This is just a small way in which we can help all those people who, while many of us are safely staying at home, are going into busy hospitals to help save lives.”
