Under 16 PhotoCards and 16-18 PhotoCards now available online

11 January 2018

Update 13 September 2023: The Under 16 and 16-18 PhotoCard has now been replaced by the Under 19s MCard ticket. These can be purchased on the MCard Mobile App. To find out more about Under 19s MCard tickets visit the Under 19's MCard webpage.

Young people can now apply for Under 16 and 16-18 PhotoCards online via the Tickets and Passes section on our Metro website at www.wymetro.com

Free, Under 16 PhotoCards are available to anyone aged 11 to 16 and ensure the cardholder receives half-fare bus and train travel in West Yorkshire. Holders can also purchase discounted weekly and monthly Under 19 Bus Only tickets.

The 16-18 PhotoCard, which replaces the Scholar's PhotoCard, costs £5 and provides the holder with half-fare bus and rail travel throughout West Yorkshire.

Young people can also use their 16-18 PhotoCard to buy Half MetroDay tickets for unlimited all day bus travel and concessionary Train DayRovers for unlimited off-peak travel on trains in West Yorkshire. The PhotoCard can also be used as ID for buying weekly and monthly Under 19 Bus Only tickets and a 16-25/Student MCard weekly/monthly/termly ticket, for bus and rail travel.

As well as being available online, Under 16 PhotoCards and 16-18 PhotoCards are available from Travel Centres at Bradford Interchange, and Castleford, Dewsbury, Halifax, Huddersfield, Keighley, Leeds, Pontefract and Wakefield Bus Stations. However, Travel Centres are expected to be busy so we are encouraging customers to beat the queues and apply online.

Removing barriers

Cllr Keith Wakefield, Chair of West Yorkshire Combined Authority's Transport Committee, said:

"For the first time ever, 16-18 PhotoCards are available online so young people can enjoy the rest of their holiday rather than stand in a queue at the Travel Centre to order their pass - it's the quickest and easiest way.

"West Yorkshire Combined Authority extended half-fare travel to 16 to 18 year olds living in West Yorkshire in November last year to help young people access apprenticeships and training places and good quality jobs.

"By removing barriers that can prevent young people embark on these opportunities, we can help them access good quality, skilled jobs in the future, in line with the aims of the Leeds City Region Strategic Economic Plan."

Existing Young Person's PhotoCards remain valid until their expiry date and will still be accepted by bus and train companies.

The new Under 19 Bus Only ticket replaces School Plus MetroCard, and is available in weekly and monthly options. It can be loaded on to the new Under 16 and 16-18 PhotoCards as well as the older Young Person's PhotoCard. Cards can be topped up at Bus Station Travel Centres, Payzones and kiosks.

With around 100,000 cardholders, MCard is the largest travel smartcard system outside London. Over 1.1 million smartcard transactions take place on West Yorkshire's buses and trains, meaning that over 30% of all bus transactions are now smart.