£10 charge for lost bus passes

From next week pensioners that lose their free travel pass will face a £10 charge to have it replaced.

Since they were introduced in April, the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority has issued almost half a million of the new passes, which entitle over-60s to free bus, tram and train travel across Greater Manchester.

The Authority has revealed that the passes go missing at a rate of 70 a day so they have decided to introduce the fee from 1 October.

Fees will also be charged to have details on the pass changed but there will be no charge if the pass has been reported stolen to the police.

From 1 October, passengers will not be able to use their old travel passes and could be refused travel if they try to use them.

GMPTE boss Mike Renshaw said: “We hope the drivers will use their discretion and not simply start turning people away on October 1, but we don’t want people thinking they can go on using their old passes forever.”