Bus pass deadline extended

Transport bosses in the West Midlands today gave pensioners an extra fortnight to apply for new passes which will let them travel free on all local buses in England.

Confusion over a shake-up in the travel pass system has meant thousands were in danger of missing the deadline. All bus passes need to be replaced by April next year in order to give pensioners free travel on local buses after 9.30am Monday to Friday, and all day during weekends and bank holidays.

Currently pensioners in the West Midlands can use a Network West Midlands pass that allows then free off-peak travel on busses, trains and trams in the region.

But, under a new government scheme announced in last year's budget, pensioners will also be allowed free off-peak travel on buses anywhere in England.

Now pensioners in the West Midlands must apply for a single pass that incorporates both the Network West Midlands scheme and the government scheme.

Network West Midlands application packs were sent out last week. Centro-WMPTA sent them to 484,000 over-60s who hold a current West Midlands concessionary pass.

Everyone who has received a pre-printed application pack now needs to get their form back to Centro-WMPTA via the pre-paid envelope by October 15 – two weeks later than the date given in the pack.

But even if they do not wish to take advantage of the national scheme, they will still need to apply for the new pass to continue to travel for free in the West Midlands, Centro-WMPTA said today.