It's a route good idea! (From Swindon Advertiser)

It's a route good idea!

3:18pm Tuesday 8th April 2008 in

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A PENSIONER who travelled to Plymouth and back, using his new bus pass, says he would recommend the nine-hour trip to anyone.

Ken Trenerry took the 175-mile journey to visit his niece on Thursday.

He used a temporary pass that allows him free off-peak bus travel across the country, so the trip cost him absolutely nothing.

The 79-year-old, from Upham Road, said the journey was a complete success.

"It was very good indeed - the connections were brilliant and the time just flew by," he said.

"I arrived in Plymouth just after eight o'clock and then spent one day there before coming back.

"I took a different route on the way back though, so it only took eight hours.

"I would recommend the trip to anyone - I used the traveline website, which makes everything very easy to organise."

Ken, a long-standing environmental campaigner and founder member of the Swindon Climate Action Network (SCAN), is keen to promote the use of public transport.

He said: "I use the bus as often as I can and I think it's a brilliant way to get around. This journey cost me nothing and had a minimal effect on the environment. I think it's an excellent scheme - if you're not in a hurry."

Ken left Swindon at just after 10am on Thursday morning and arrived in Plymouth at 8.02pm, having changed six times and covered 175 miles.

His route took him via Frome, Wells, Taunton, Tiverton and Exeter before finally arriving in Plymouth.

He came back, via Bristol, on Saturday. The new concessionary bus pass, which gives free off-peak bus travel to pensioners and the disabled, came into force on April 1.

There have been numerous problems with passes not arriving on time, including Ken's. Instead he used one of the temporary passes that have been issued by Swindon Council.

The council has said that all the passes should have arrived by April 14.

For more information on the concessionary bus pass scheme go to www.direct.gov.uk.