Further improvements are being planned for the passes that give West Midlands senior citizens free travel on all buses, trains and trams.
A proposal to introduce credit-card style plastic passes is to be considered by councillors on the Passenger Transport Authority. Changes in the way passes are issued could also make them available at many more convenient outlets.
Centro, the public transport promoter that carries out policy for the PTA, is suggesting the improvements to make the travel passes more hard-wearing. At the moment more than 40,000 people have had to be issued with replacement passes because the cardboard version has either been lost or has simply worn out.
Issuing the plastic passes centrally, instead of from post offices, would also allow for extra validity and address checks to reduce fraud.
People would still be able to apply for their travel pass at post offices (and neighbourhood offices in Birmingham) – but the actual pass would be posted to their home address. Centro is planning a similar system to the ‘check and send’ system when applying for passports. This opens up the potential for applications to be processed at libraries, Age Concern offices and other similar locations, councillors are told.
“At the moment almost a third of passes issued at post offices are replacement passes. This new system will reduce wastage all round,” explains Cllr Christine Mills, PTA lead member for customer relations. “The concessionary pass gives free off-peak travel on almost every bus, train and tram in the West Midlands, so it’s a valuable card and needs to be hard-wearing.”
Because plastic photo-passes are more expensive to produce, Centro is suggesting a charge could be made for re-issues. However, the new system means people would save the cost of the two passport photographs you currently need when getting a replacement cardboard pass at a post office.
Councillors are also discussing proposals for a compulsory ID pass for youngsters aged 14 to 16 to get half fare travel. The region’s biggest private bus company Travel West Midlands has said it believes there is significant fraudulent use of child tickets by passengers who are not entitled to them. This fraud could also have an impact on the council tax because child half fares at peak times are paid for out of a public subsidy.
All the issues are to be discussed by councillors on the PTA’s key transport strategy committee on Monday 5 September.
