Pensioners and the disabled will travel at half-fare under Government plans for a concessionary public transport scheme.

City of York Council is working to implement the plans, which will also need to be put in place in North and East Yorkshire.

They will mean full fares will be cut in half on off-peak buses for eligible passengers.

Under York's current system, 29,700 passengers were given transport tokens worth £24 for use on local taxis, buses and trains last year.

Pensioners can also buy a pass for £32, which allows them to travel at 37p a journey, with many people tendering travel tokens as part-payment for the pass.

Disabled people can buy up to £100 worth of transport tokens for half price, although registered blind get a pass entitling them to free bus travel.

A case study shows that passengers will benefit from the new system, expected to be introduced in April.

Dave Pearson, the council's principal transport planner, said: "A pensioner using the pass to make 156 trips, which is the average per year, between Tang Hall and the city centre, currently pays £90 a year, including the cost of the pass, less their £24 of tokens, making a net cost to them of £66.

"The same trips made under a half fare scheme would cost £55, saving £10 per year. The new scheme favours the pensioner, who makes frequent use of the local bus service, once a week or more."

And City of York Council are proposing adding to the scheme to make it even more beneficial to the passenger by offering the choice of a bus pass, or the cash equivalent.

Mr Pearson said: "The ultimate cost of the scheme will depend upon actual usage of the pass and take up of any cash equivalent offered.

"The consultant's model suggests that 1.8 million trips will be made by 26,500 pass holders at a total cost of £692,000."

The Government is expected to offer additional funding of £140,000, with extra costs being met by existing budgets.

adam.nichols@ycp.co.uk