Rush-hour bus pass fares set to rocket

Bus fares for Oldham pensioners will go up in April — and they may lose their right to travel cheaply on trams and trains as well as buses, as spending cuts bite.

Although the over-60s will keep their free bus travel outside the rush hour — guaranteed by the Government — the current 80p concessionary fare is likely to be increased to at least half the commercial fare.

And the worst case scenario will see them having to pay full fares if they travel before 9.30am on buses, trains and trams.

The concessionary fare is currently payable by pensioners , the disabled, and under 16s travelling before 9.30am.

Average commercial bus fares range from £1.60 to more than £2 for an adult single, depending on the operator.

The rise will come as the Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority battles a budget deficit rising from £3.5m in the coming financial year to £13.6m in 2013/2014.

The authority gets its money from Greater Manchester’s 10 district councils in the form of a levy.

Its officials will meet council leaders on Friday to try to negotiate next year’s levy.

But all five options which will go before the leaders at a meeting of the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities in Oldham on Friday assumes the concessionary fare rise to save £8.3m a year.

Free off-peak bus fares are paid for by a Department for Transport grant of £11m a year.

Each council is facing its own crisis because of the cuts and some, including Manchester City, have announced massive job cuts.

It is unlikely that leaders will want to pay more than they have to for cheap travel.

Some experts believe the news will be even worse for Greater Manchester pensioners who could also lose the free off-peak train and tram travel which is paid for by the authority over and above the government’s National Concessionary scheme.