Commuters on the Midland Metro can now use 'Swift' pay-as-you-go to benefit from cheaper fares.

The smart card, which already works across a variety of buses around the West Midlands, can now be used on the regions tram network as a cheaper way to buy day tickets and single fares.

Swift is used in a similar way to an 'Oyster' card in London. Most monthly or annual bus passes are now issued on the plastic which is touched against scanners when boarding the vehicle. The service also offers the pay-as-you-go option which functions in the same way as cash, but with most operators offering discounts. 

This now includes Midland Metro, which is operated by National Express West Midlands on behalf of Centro, the delivery arm for the West Midlands Integrated Transport Authority. Passengers simply hand their card to the tram conductor and tell them what ticket they’d like to buy.

PAYG users on Metro will save 10p on a single fare and 20p on a day ticket.

Cllr Kath Hartley, chair of Centro’s Putting Passengers First committee, said: “The days of having to rummage about in pockets or purses for change to pay your fare are gone.

"With Swift you just present your card and away you go, it could not be simpler.”

Swift PAYG was launched in October 2015 and can be used on most buses in the region, including National Express West Midlands and National Express Coventry services plus 22 other operators.

Passengers load cash onto their Swift PAYG card and use it to buy single, return and day tickets.

PAYG has a minimum top up of £10 and a maximum of £50. A card is not restricted to use by one person and can be shared with friends and family.

Swift PAYG can also be linked to a credit or debit card to activate an auto top-up which means it will never run out of credit.