ELDERLY people will no longer travel for free on trains and trams after a new charge was agreed.

Bus passes will remain free but concessionary travel on other public transport will be charged at a £10 annual fee.

It comes as Andy Burnham’s Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) looks to create a pot of cash to fund reform of the region’s bus network. The charge could come into force around January 2020 and will mean pensioners pay the same fee as young people using the newly introduced 16-18 pass.

Announcing the plans, Stephen Rhodes, customer director at Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), said: “Introducing an annual £10 charge for older people to access off-peak tram and rail services in Greater Manchester is something which has been considered extremely carefully and remains subject to approval by Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA).

“The proposal being considered would not apply to people only wishing to travel by bus.”