A meeting of the Greater Nottingham Light Rapid Transit Advisory Committee of the City Council has been told that 17% of all tram users are in possession of a concessionary pass – 5% up on 2006.
The scheme sees only concessionary pass holders for Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire County Council areas are allowed to claim free travel, with restrictions – any pass holders from outside these areas still has to pay full fare. City residents get free tram travel at all times except between 0730 and 0930 when the full fare has to be paid, the only exception is the disabled who travel free at all times. County residents aged over 60 receive free travel from 0930 to 1600 and after 1800 and half fare travel outside of these times. The disabled from the County get free travel after 0930 and half fares before this time.
It was also revealed at the meeting that two letters of complaint had been received about people from outside the county not being able to use their passes. Of course, this is a problem well known across tram systems as the government funding only covers bus services unless the local authority can find ways of funding trams.
A committee spokesman said: “Since the commencement of tram operations in 2004, the number of concessionary fare pass users has risen by 74% and these users now make up more than 17% of total tram passengers (compared to less than 12% two years ago).”
Source: This is Nottingham