A senior citizen from South Yorkshire completed her trip-of-a-lifetime yesterday (Sunday 13 April) by travelling from Berwick Upon Tweed to Land’s End by bus.
Sixty-six year-old Christine Jackson, from Sheffield, is making the 700 mile journey across England to demonstrate how easy it is to use the new English National Concessions Pass. She is travelling on local buses across the country for free with best friend, retired doctor, Manju Ghosh, who is from Greater Manchester.
The duo started their challenge in Berwick Upon Tweed on 1 April, the day the new English Concessions bus pass was introduced, and reached Land’s End on Sunday.
Speaking about her trip Christine said: “We wanted an adventure and we have certainly had one. It really has been a trip of a lifetime and we have loved every minute.
“The places we have visited have been lovely and the buses have been reliable, regular and comfortable. Some drivers have even given us a running commentary along the route as we pass through new places.”
Along the way the pair have passed through numerous towns and cities in England including Newcastle, Darlington, Selby, York, Doncaster, Sheffield, Oxford and Bath.
But despite having a busy schedule, they have managed to squeeze in some sight seeing trips including a walk around Durham Castle, a visit to a book shop in Alnwick and a stop at Selby Abbey.
Throughout the journey they have attracted lots of publicity, both local and national and become ‘celebrities’ in their own right. They are even making a video diary of their trip for the BBC.
Christine added: “We have been astonished at all the publicity we have received. From the day we started this trip we have had journalists and photographers travelling with us. It has been quite an experience.”
“Our free pass has enabled us to travel the country for free, see some fantastic sights and have the trip of a lifetime.”
The English National Concessions Pass offers senior citizens and disabled passengers free travel on local bus services anywhere in England from 09.30 until 23.00 on weekdays and all day at weekends and on Bank Holidays.
David Brown, Director General at South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE ), praised Christine and Manju for their efforts.
He said “It is a fantastic achievement and Christine and Manju have really raised the profile of the new English National Concessions Scheme. Congratulations to the pair of them.”
In South Yorkshire residents are also entitled to free travel from 09.00 on weekdays and all day at weekends and Bank Holidays on the following services:
- Any bus or tram within South Yorkshire
- Between stations on the South Yorkshire rail network
- to and from West Yorkshire on Northern Rail services (without changing
- trains in West Yorkshire)
- Into South Yorkshire by bus from neighbouring areas.
To claim this concession passengers must have a new style English National Concessions Pass. Last year South Yorkshire SYPTE wrote to 225,000 people across South Yorkshire inviting them to apply for it.
All of these replies are being processed and new passes are currently being issued. Passengers can use their existing passes to travel in South Yorkshire until 30 September.
Similarly if customers have not yet applied for the new English National Concessions Pass they can do so by popping into any Travel South Yorkshire Information Centre with proof of their age, address and a passport sized photograph.
For more information please contact Julia Price, Senior Communications Officer on 0114 221 1413 or 07919 111361 or email juliap@sypte.co.uk