Free travel vow just the ticket

Pensioners in the Black Country who have not received their new bus passes by Tuesday were today reassured they can still travel free on public transport.

Almost 500,000 pensioners in the West Midlands should have received their new national concessionary passes by April 1. But anyone who has not will still be able to use their old pass until the end of September, public transport bosses have pledged. Transport authority Centro has been sending out 20,000 passes a day since the deadline passed.

The deadline was at the end of February. A total of 420,231 passes, which include a new computer chip so they can be used when new smartcard scanners on trains and buses are brought in over the next few years, have been put in the post.

The passes will be valid on buses, trains and the Metro after 9.30am Monday to Friday and all day at weekends and on bank holidays from Tuesday.

Centro has promised that any pensioner who did not apply by February 29 will still be able to get a new pass, but not in time for the start of the new scheme, which offers free local bus travel all over England.

Old-style bus passes are restricted to the West Midlands but anyone who does not get a new pass in time will still be able to use them until September 30.

Last September pensioners faced frustration when a helpline for people with queries over the new passes was constantly engaged.

The chaos prompted an apology from bosses at Centro and the deadline for applications was extended.

Councillor Judith Rowley, who represents Wolverhampton on Centro's panel, explained today: "It is good sense to allow the old passes to still be used.

"There is bound to be someone who does not get their pass either because of a problem with the post or because they did not apply in time," she added.

"Some of our pensioners using passes are more than 100 years old and may not have known or understood about the need to apply."

The old passes cannot be used outside of the West Midlands.

Anyone who does not receive their pass by Tuesday or who still needs to apply is asked to call Centro's helpline on 0845 303 6760.