A QUICK REMINDER OVER CHANGES TO CONCESSIONARY TRAVEL PASSES WHICH KICK IN FROM THE 1ST OF FEB

If you have a TfGM issued 'Pension Age' concessionary travel pass or a Woman's Concessionary Travel Pass you should be aware that from the 1st of Feb things are about to change.

Bus travel will remain free off-peak but to continue to benefit from unlimited off-peak travel on trains and trams across the Greater Manchester region you will need to pay an annual fee of £10 per year.

Those who hold a concessionary pass due to disability will not be affected by the changes as they don't apply.

You can add Tram & Train to your pass online by clicking HERE or you can take your pass into a TfGM travel shop and they can add it for you.

Additionally you can go into any store that offers the PayPoint service and ask them to add train and tram, hand the retailer your pass along with the £10 fee and they will add it for you and hand your pass back.

You can also add to your pass via the https://getmethere.com website.

If you pay early, you will be covered for one year from February 1 2020.

After February 1, you’ll be covered for a full year from the date you pay.

There has been wide-spread criticism of the new rules with some saying that the changes will fuel social isolation often felt by older people.

TfGM say that the charge is simply to cover the cost of administration of the scheme.

City Mayor Paul Dennett said at the time he wasn’t keen on the idea, but the need both for parity with young people and also to raise cash for bus reform meant he would reluctantly back it.

Quote

 

“I have to say, I’m not a fan of what I refer to as stealth taxes, or administrative charges.

“They’re a bureaucratic nightmare, they’re very costly and also not necessarily progressive, but I accept the points being made around parity.”

 

Photo: SalfordOnline Stock