The West Midlands is leading the way in offering free travel on its bus, train and tram networks.

Applications for Centro concessionary travel passes have shot up by 30 per cent since they were made available to everyone over 60 years old.  The West Midlands scheme came into force eight months ahead of the national scheme announced in Gordon Brown’s last budget.

Among 60-64 year olds, who previously only qualified for half-fare passes, the take up rate has increased by 50 per cent.

The latest statistics are revealed in a report to the West Midlands Passenger Transport Authority, which sets policy for Centro.  They show more than a thousand new people a week applied for passes immediately after the more generous scheme was introduced last July – and three million extra trips have been made on the bus and Midland Metro.

“We were keen to make the additional benefits available as soon as possible,” comments PTA member Cllr Christine Mills.  “It was also very important to us that free travel should be available on all forms of public transport.”

The national scheme, which comes into force next April, only covers free local off-peak travel by bus.  However, as the promoter of an integrated public transport system, Centro-PTA offers the concession on all bus, rail and tram services in the West Midlands.