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Free travel smartcards to be issued

17/09/2007

Nearly half a million smartcards are to be issued to elderly and disabled public transport users in Greater Manchester.

More than 400,000 of the free travel cards will replace current passes from next April and will entitle cardholders to travel for free on off-peak buses and on the Metrolink and train network after 09:00.

Councillor Roger Jones said he was proud that Greater Manchester has one of the most generous free travel schemes in the country.

"These new passes will also lay an important foundation for the more widespread use of smartcards in Greater Manchester," he remarked.

"This is a long-held aspiration of ours and over the coming year we will continue to work towards it with the various transport operators."

Last month, the Greater Manchester councils submitted a transport funding bid to the government, which if successful, will lead to the overhaul of the region's buses, trains and trams.