Merseytravel commits to free travel for over-60s

Date: 8/4/2010

Elderly people in Merseyside will continue to receive free bus, train and ferry travel regardless of national changes taking place.

Merseytravel has announced that, although the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme is to move the age at which Brits are eligible for free public transport from 60 to 65, those over 60 in Merseyside will not be affected.

According to the Ormskirk & Skelmersdale Advertiser, the transport operator vowed to keep the elderly and disabled mobile in the county by maintaining the policy, which was introduced 22 years ago.

Councillor Mark Dowd, chairman of Merseytravel, said: "The additional costs because of changes to the English national bus scheme will be negligible. [3,000 passes per year] are more than compensated for by the benefits, both social and economic, brought by free travel."

The Department for Transport recently announced that a key route between Wirral and Liverpool city centre will also benefit from £70 million of government investment.