Free bus travel on the way for pensioners

Date published: 18 March 2005

A meeting on Thursday 17 March of Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority welcomed the announcement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to provide free, off-peak, local bus travel for all pensioners and disabled people from April 2006.

Councillor Allen Brett, Rochdale spokesperson for the Authority, added: "This is good news but, in the meantime, given the large increase in patronage and subsidy, we urge bus operators not to put up their fares and reduce service levels. In order to balance its budget, the Authority recently made the first increase to the concessionary fare in four years, and it is no coincidence that the two major bus operators have subsequently increased their fares.

"We know that they have concerns about fewer pensioners choosing to travel by bus. We believe that these fears are unfounded and that the concessionary fare still represents good value for money. Greater Manchester's bus passengers should not be penalised by fare increases and service cuts."

Councillor Roger Jones, Chair of the Authority, said: "This is great news for Greater Manchester's pensioners. We already provide free travel for some people with disabilities and we are pleased to be able to extend this to pensioners from next year. Government has not yet announced how the scheme will be funded but we hope that national resources will be made available to us.

"We have now asked GMPTE's Director General and Clerk to the Authority to report back at the earliest opportunity on the detailed implementation of these arrangements within Greater Manchester." Earlier in the year the Authority agreed to a rise in the maximum concessionary bus fare from 40p to 50p, and rail and Metrolink fares from 45p to 60p, with effect from 27 February. The rise was the first in a four year period, in which time the average bus fare had increased by approximately 25% - which had a knock on effect on the Authority's support payments to commercial operators.