Senior citizens in the West Midlands will continue to get free travel on all forms of public transport, councillors have pledged.

The reassurance comes in the wake of Budget announcements of a bus pass scheme for all local authority areas from next week and a nationwide scheme from April 2008.  This provides fewer travel options than those enjoyed by residents of the West Midlands for many years.

The region’s Passenger Transport Authority had already introduced free off-peak travel on all buses, trains and trams from last July.

“We believe in integrated transport here in the West Midlands – and I am determined that travel concessions should apply to all forms of public transport, not just buses,” explains Centro-PTA chairman Cllr Gary Clarke.  “As local councillors, we will seek to top up the national scheme if necessary.”

Everyone over 60 years old or who qualifies as disabled can apply for a travel pass – and more than 50,000 people have already done so in the West Midlands metropolitan area.  A recent report showed some three million extra trips have been made on the bus, train and Midland Metro.