Cuts mean Nottingham pensioners will have to pay for Derby Red Arrow

The Nottingham public react to the proposed changes

Nottingham pensioners will have to pay to travel to Derby on the Red Arrow bus but will be able to get the return journey for free.

Nottingham City Council are cutting the free bus fare on the service for pensioners, while Derby City Council are maintaining their free service.

Previously the Nottinghamshire public were entitled to a free travel pass when they reached state retirement or have an eligible disability. This entitles them to free travel on local buses and the Nottingham Tram network.

However this pass will no longer include the Red Arrow, the fastest bus to Derby.

The change, set to come in on April 1, means pensioners will be able to travel from Derby to Nottingham for free but will then have to pay for the return journey.

Trent Barton, which manages the Red Arrow, has criticised the move saying it will “confuse” customers.

Marketing and Communication Officer for Trent Barton, Jordan Kemp, said: “Figures show roughly 6,000 trips are made on the Red Arrow every week, with around 3,500 people getting on at Nottingham.

“When the change comes into place all these people who are concessionary holders getting on at Nottingham, will have to pay for their journey but not for the return trip. It’s going to be a very bizarre and confusing change for our customers.”

He added that concessionary holders are difficult to communicate with as they are not as active on social media and often use the service infrequently so expects for there to be confusion when the change come into place in April.

Nottingham City Council defended the change saying it does have the money in the budget to subsidise the fares any longer.