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Discounts and free travel passes

We offer lots of discounts and passes. Children under the age of 5 can travel for free. You can get cheaper fares for children over 5 and under 16. Use our ticket finder to search for child tickets.

You'll need to pay an adult fare if you're 16 or over unless you qualify for one of these discounts, or passes.

Older person's travel pass

If you’re eligible, you can get free off-peak bus, train and tram travel in the West Midlands.

Disabled person's travel pass

Child photocard.

Swift child photocards are for children over 5 and under 16. You can get 50% off the adult rate with a child photocard.

16-18 photocard

You can get 50% off travel to school, college or work if you’re eligible.

Discounts for students

Students in full-time education can get travel discounts.

Discounts for jobseekers

Get half-price travel for 3 months when you start a new job if you're eligible.

£1 tickets for friends and family

If you have an nNetwork or nTrain season ticket, you can take 1 adult and up to 2 children with you on the train for £1 return.

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Are you a care-leaver who is looking to travel within the West Midlands?

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Contactless FAQs

The answers to the most common questions from our customers.

• Help & information
• Contactless help & FAQs

Contactless FAQs 

What is the difference between tap & cap and paying by contactless.

Tap & Cap can only be used to pay for Adult West Midlands Single, Day and 3 or 7 day capped tickets. You can buy any single or Day ticket on the bus when paying by contactless.

Which contactless cards are accepted on the bus?

Most contactless cards issued from the UK can be used on our buses. We do not accept the following: American Express, Diners Club, JCB or Union Pay Fees or charges may apply if non UK cards are used, for further details please check with your bank.

Can any contactless card/device be used on every bus?

You can use your contactless card/device on most National Express buses. You may not be able to use contactless on certain special services. These may include school services, sporting or leisure event services or specific works services.

Where can I see my payments or the journeys I have made?

To see journeys and payments you have made, please use the buttons below:

I used my credit/debit card    I used my mobile device

Why have I had more than one payment taken on the same day?

You may find that there are more than one pending payments showing on the day that you travel. At the end of our working day our system will check your total journeys and cap this at the best price for you. Our working day starts at 3am and ends at 2:59am the following day. If you have travelled on a Friday, Saturday, Sunday or bank holiday payments will be taken the next working day. This will mean that you will have more than one payment showing at this time. If you are unsure about your payments you can see the journeys you have made by clicking the buttons below:

Why has my card not worked on the bus?

If you see a red screen when you have tried to pay using your contactless card/device, please wait for 5 seconds and try again. If this happens again, your payment has not gone through. You will need to find a different way to pay for your journey. Our drivers will not know why your card/device has not worked on the reader.

I think my card is blocked, what do I do?

If your card/device has been blocked, you will need to contact your card issuer. We do not have the ability to block or unblock contactless cards/devices.

Tap & Cap

What is tap & cap.

This is a quick and easy way of paying for Adult travel on our buses, without the need of hunting for change. Make as many bus journeys as you like using the same card/device from Monday to Sunday and we will cap your payment to give you the best value for your travel.

How does Tap & Cap work?

Simply tap your contactless card/device to the reader, wait for the green screen and take a seat. Don't forget - No ticket will be printed - You don't need to tap your card/device when you leave the bus - You need to use the same card/device for every journey you make - We cannot cap your payment if you use Tap & Cap alongside regular contactless payments

What are the Tap & Cap prices?

3 day and maximum capping is calculated for journeys made between a set time period of Monday to Sunday.

I have been charged £6 for one day of travel...

Sometimes transactions are not communicated immediately if a bus cannot connect to the network. We will store the information until it is connected securely, this can lead to a higher charge than expected when the delayed payment is added. Please check your previous travel as you should find you've been charged correctly. I used my credit/debit card    I used my mobile device

Can I pay for someone else using Tap & Cap?

Tap & Cap is not suitable to buy tickets for other people because you have to use the same contactless card/device every time you travel for the payments to be capped. If you need to buy tickets for other people, you are able to pay using contactless by asking the driver for the tickets you need. For more information please see our paying by contactless information below.

Can I pay for child travel using Tap & Cap?

Tap & Cap cannot be used to buy child tickets. If you need to pay for child tickets on the bus, you can pay using contactless. For more information please see our paying by contactless information below.

Can I pay for Short Hop journeys using Tap & Cap?

Tap & Cap cannot be used to pay for Short Hop journeys. If you need to buy a Short Hop ticket, you can pay using contactless. For more information please see our paying by contactless information below.

How will a bus inspector know that I have paid?

Bus Inspectors will be given a list of Tap & Cap customers from the driver. If you have used a credit/debit card: You will need to provide the inspector with the last 4 digits of the card number. If you have used Apple Pay: You will need to go into the 'Wallet & Apple Pay' from your settings, select the card and then click on 'Info' to display the Device Account Number. This will be different to the last 4 digits of your card number. If you have used Android Pay: You will need to go into the Android Pay app, select the card and display the Virtual Account Number. This will be different to the last 4 digits of your card number.

If the bus cannot continue and we have to board another, do I tap again?

If you have to change your bus during a journey due to it breaking down or driver availability at a changeover point, you do not need to tap your card again on the replacement bus. Drivers and Inspectors will be made aware of this.

Paying by contactless

What is paying by contactless.

Paying by contatcless is when you use a contactless card/device to buy tickets from our driver on the bus. Any ticket that you can buy with cash you will be able to pay for with contactless.

How does paying by contactless work?

Contactless payments are simple to use. Just follow the steps below: 1. When getting on the bus, ask your driver for your chosen ticket(s) 2. Your choice(s) will be displayed on the reader 3. Hold you contactless card / device to the reader until the light goes green, take your ticket(s) and have a seat. Remember, don't put your contactless card/device on the reader until the screen tells you to do so, just like in the shops.

Can I buy tickets for someone else when paying by contactless?

You can buy tickets for multiple people when you pay by contactless. Just ask the driver for your tickets and then place your contactless card/device on the reader when they ask you to.

Can I buy tickets for child travel when paying by contactless?

Yes, child tickets are now available when you pay by contactless. Just ask the driver for the ticket you need and then place you contactless card/device on the reader when they ask you to.

Can I buy a Short Hop journey when paying by contactless?

Yes, Short Hop tickets are now available when you pay by contactless. Just ask the driver for the ticket you need and then place you contactless card/device on the reader when they ask you to.

I have been charged for a Tap & Cap payment on top of my contactless payments

If you tap your contactless card/device before the driver has confirmed your tickets, a Tap & Cap payment will be taken. Make sure you don't hold your contactless card/device to the reader until the screen tells you to do so, just like in the shops. To request a refund for a Tap & Cap payment, please fill out the Customer Enquiries form below.

You will receive a printed ticket when you pay using contactless, just like paying with cash. You will need to keep this safe and show the inspectors when they board the bus.

If you have any other questions

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Passenger descriptions

Our passenger descriptions are designed to help you choose the right ticket for yourself or your fellow travellers.

Adult fares are applicable to all passengers aged 2+. Adults under the age of 16 are not permitted to travel alone on any European service unless accompanied by an adult aged 18 or over or they have a letter of authority from a parent or guardian.

Infants 0-1 Inclusive

Children aged under the age of 2, must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 or over. Unaccompanied children will not be carried.

Single trips & day tickets

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• Clean air zone
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Call or get in touch online We are here to help

Coventry buses

Visit National Express Coventry

National Express great value coach travel and holidays

Part of Mobico Group

© West Midlands Travel Limited 2024

Passenger descriptions

Our passenger descriptions are designed to help you choose the right ticket for yourself or your fellow travellers.

Adult fares are applicable to all passengers aged 2+. Adults under the age of 16 are not permitted to travel alone on any European service unless accompanied by an adult aged 18 or over or they have a letter of authority from a parent or guardian.

Infants 0-1 Inclusive

Children aged under the age of 2, must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 or over. Unaccompanied children will not be carried.

Network Travel Area

Services Covered

Valid on standard class rail services (within the specified rail zone) and bus services in the West Midlands county and the specified areasrun by operators in the Centrocard Scheme and the Metro.

• Time restrictions may apply to some tickets. Please check the terms and conditions of the ticket for full details.
• Zone 1 and Zone 1-2 tickets not valid on the Metro.

Zones 1-2 include:  Adderley Park, Small Heath, Aston, Smethwick, Duddeston, Gravelly Hill, Hawthorns, Tyseley, Perry Barr, Selly Oak, Witton

Zones 1-5 include:  All stations in Zones 1 and 2 and

Acocks Green Langley Green, Bourneville, Lea Hall, Chester Road, Rowley Regis, Erdington, Spring Road, Hall Green, Stechford, Hamsted, Yardley Wood, Kings Norton

Bescott Stadium, Shirley, Dudley Port, Solihull, Longbridge, Sutton Coldfield, Marston Green, Tame Bridge, Northfield, Walsall, Old Hill, Whitlocks End, Olton, Widney Manor, Sandwell & Dudley, Wylde Green

Berkswell, Earlswood, Four Oaks, Blake Street, Hampton In Arden, Bloxwich, Lye, Stourbridge, Butlers Lane, Canley, Tile Hill, Coseley, Tipton, Coventry, Wolverhampton, Cradley Heath, Wythall, Dorridge

Conditions of use

Travel on Train Companies' services is subject to the National Rail Conditions of Travel and to the published terms & conditions relating to Bus & Metro operators' services and facilities, which are available for inspection at the head offices of the appropriate companies. The following additional conditions also apply:

1. Valid on local bus services in the West Midlands county run by operators in the Centrocard Scheme and Midland Metro. 2. Valid on rail services in the Zone(s) indicated in the West Midlands county run by operators in the Centrocard scheme, in standard class accommodation unless otherwise shown. Tickets valid for Zone(s) 1 and 1&2 only are not valid on Metro. 3. For times of availability and full ticket details see current conditions of use, and any other notices and publications applicable to its use. 4. This ticket does not give priority over other passengers and can only be used in conjunction with a valid Photocard. 5. This product remains the property of the West Midlands Combined Authority, 16 Summer Lane, Birmingham, B19 3SD and may be withdrawn by the Operator or West Midlands Combined Authority, if misused. 6. This ticket is to be produced on every journey. If not so produced, ordinary fares must be paid that are not refundable on bus or Midland Metro services. 7. This ticket will be rendered invalid if altered, mutilated or defaced. 8. This ticket is not transferable and must be given up on expiry or renewal. 9. Zones 2-5 are not valid on rail services to, through or from Zone 1; which comprises Birmingham Moor street, Birmingham New Street, Birmingham Snow Hill, Five Ways and Jewellery Quarter stations.

Travel on Train companies services is subject to the National rail Conditions or carriage and to the published terms & conditions relating to bus & Metro operators services and facilities which are available for inspection at the head offices of the appropriate companies.

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Moscow Metro

The Moscow Metro Tour is included in most guided tours’ itineraries. Opened in 1935, under Stalin’s regime, the metro was not only meant to solve transport problems, but also was hailed as “a people’s palace”. Every station you will see during your Moscow metro tour looks like a palace room. There are bright paintings, mosaics, stained glass, bronze statues… Our Moscow metro tour includes the most impressive stations best architects and designers worked at - Ploshchad Revolutsii, Mayakovskaya, Komsomolskaya, Kievskaya, Novoslobodskaya and some others.

What is the kremlin in russia?

The guide will not only help you navigate the metro, but will also provide you with fascinating background tales for the images you see and a history of each station.

And there some stories to be told during the Moscow metro tour! The deepest station - Park Pobedy - is 84 metres under the ground with the world longest escalator of 140 meters. Parts of the so-called Metro-2, a secret strategic system of underground tunnels, was used for its construction.

During the Second World War the metro itself became a strategic asset: it was turned into the city's biggest bomb-shelter and one of the stations even became a library. 217 children were born here in 1941-1942! The metro is the most effective means of transport in the capital.

There are almost 200 stations 196 at the moment and trains run every 90 seconds! The guide of your Moscow metro tour can explain to you how to buy tickets and find your way if you plan to get around by yourself.

Claudia Looi

Touring the Top 10 Moscow Metro Stations

By Claudia Looi 2 Comments

Komsomolskaya metro station looks like a museum. It has vaulted ceilings and baroque decor.

Hidden underground, in the heart of Moscow, are historical and architectural treasures of Russia. These are Soviet-era creations – the metro stations of Moscow.

Our guide Maria introduced these elaborate metro stations as “the palaces for the people.” Built between 1937 and 1955, each station holds its own history and stories. Stalin had the idea of building beautiful underground spaces that the masses could enjoy. They would look like museums, art centers, concert halls, palaces and churches. Each would have a different theme. None would be alike.

The two-hour private tour was with a former Intourist tour guide named Maria. Maria lived in Moscow all her life and through the communist era of 60s to 90s. She has been a tour guide for more than 30 years. Being in her 60s, she moved rather quickly for her age. We traveled and crammed with Maria and other Muscovites on the metro to visit 10 different metro stations.

Arrow showing the direction of metro line 1 and 2

Moscow subways are very clean

To Maria, every street, metro and building told a story. I couldn’t keep up with her stories. I don’t remember most of what she said because I was just thrilled being in Moscow.   Added to that, she spilled out so many Russian words and names, which to one who can’t read Cyrillic, sounded so foreign and could be easily forgotten.

The metro tour was the first part of our all day tour of Moscow with Maria. Here are the stations we visited:

1. Komsomolskaya Metro Station  is the most beautiful of them all. Painted yellow and decorated with chandeliers, gold leaves and semi precious stones, the station looks like a stately museum. And possibly decorated like a palace. I saw Komsomolskaya first, before the rest of the stations upon arrival in Moscow by train from St. Petersburg.

2. Revolution Square Metro Station (Ploshchad Revolyutsii) has marble arches and 72 bronze sculptures designed by Alexey Dushkin. The marble arches are flanked by the bronze sculptures. If you look closely you will see passersby touching the bronze dog's nose. Legend has it that good luck comes to those who touch the dog's nose.

Touch the dog's nose for good luck. At the Revolution Square station

Revolution Square Metro Station

3. Arbatskaya Metro Station served as a shelter during the Soviet-era. It is one of the largest and the deepest metro stations in Moscow.

Arbatskaya Metro Station

4. Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station was built in 1935 and named after the Russian State Library. It is located near the library and has a big mosaic portrait of Lenin and yellow ceramic tiles on the track walls.

Lenin's portrait at the Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station

5. Kievskaya Metro Station was one of the first to be completed in Moscow. Named after the capital city of Ukraine by Kiev-born, Nikita Khruschev, Stalin's successor.

Kievskaya Metro Station

6. Novoslobodskaya Metro Station  was built in 1952. It has 32 stained glass murals with brass borders.

Novoslobodskaya metro station

7. Kurskaya Metro Station was one of the first few to be built in Moscow in 1938. It has ceiling panels and artwork showing Soviet leadership, Soviet lifestyle and political power. It has a dome with patriotic slogans decorated with red stars representing the Soviet's World War II Hall of Fame. Kurskaya Metro Station is a must-visit station in Moscow.

Ceiling panel and artworks at Kurskaya Metro Station

8. Mayakovskaya Metro Station built in 1938. It was named after Russian poet Vladmir Mayakovsky. This is one of the most beautiful metro stations in the world with 34 mosaics painted by Alexander Deyneka.

Mayakovskaya station

One of the over 30 ceiling mosaics in Mayakovskaya metro station

9. Belorusskaya Metro Station is named after the people of Belarus. In the picture below, there are statues of 3 members of the Partisan Resistance in Belarus during World War II. The statues were sculpted by Sergei Orlov, S. Rabinovich and I. Slonim.

10. Teatralnaya Metro Station (Theatre Metro Station) is located near the Bolshoi Theatre.

Teatralnaya Metro Station decorated with porcelain figures .

Taking the metro's escalator at the end of the tour with Maria the tour guide.

Have you visited the Moscow Metro? Leave your comment below.

January 15, 2017 at 8:17 am

An excellent read! Thanks for much for sharing the Russian metro system with us. We're heading to Moscow in April and exploring the metro stations were on our list and after reading your post, I'm even more excited to go visit them. Thanks again 🙂

December 6, 2017 at 10:45 pm

Hi, do you remember which tour company you contacted for this tour?

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Moscow Metro, MCC and Aeroexpress trains have free Wi-Fi

May 5, 2017

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