MCard to offer cheaper bus journeys for 19-25 year olds in West Yorkshire as new academic year starts

Young people in West Yorkshire are set to benefit from cheaper bus travel as the new academic year starts.

Better value bus tickets for 19-25-year-olds and full-time students over 25 are now available thanks to new, longer-term ticketing options on the MCard mobile app.

As part of the extended ticket range, students can choose between termly, academic year and calendar year MCard bus-only tickets to save costs over a longer period of time.

For instance, buying a bus-only ticket for the first academic term of the year would save a student over £50 compared to buying weekly tickets.

West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin said: “Thousands of students across West Yorkshire take the bus not only to get to university or college, but also to get to their part-time jobs, the gym, to see friends and visit family.

“As students get ready for the new academic year, we are giving young people an easier, cheaper and more flexible way to get around, with everything they need on one app.

“The fantastic success of our MCard is paving the way for a better-connected West Yorkshire, as we prepare to rollout our Weaver Network.”

MCard is the largest multimodal ticketing scheme in the UK outside of London, allowing people to buy and store tickets to use on buses and trains across West Yorkshire, regardless of the operator.

Young people can take an unlimited number of bus journeys with a bus-only ticket, on any service on weekdays and weekends, helping to keep costs affordable.

Taking the bus is a popular choice of public transport for young people, with 19-to-25-year-olds and full-time students making over three million bus journeys in West Yorkshire between August 2025 and July 2026, according to MCard data.

Discounted short-term bus tickets are already available for this age range through MCard.

General Manager at MCard, John Henshall said: “We are excited to be able to improve the ticketing range for the tickets which people need. Bringing on termly and annual options for 19-to-25-year-olds gives people more control over their budgets with an ability to plan ahead and make savings at the same time.

“Working with colleagues at the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and operators, this is an important step in ensuring the right foundations are in place for Weaver Network ticketing ensuring flexibility, accessibility and affordability for all passengers.”

By adding longer-term bus-only ticketing options too, MCard will provide greater choice and enable young people to save even more money.

Easy to use and affordable public transport is a key part of the Mayor of West Yorkshire's Weaver Network - a seamless transport system that connects buses, trains, a future mass transit system, walking, wheeling and cycling.

MCard is owned by the West Yorkshire Ticketing Company (WYTCL) which is made up of bus and rail operators in the region and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.