PENSIONERS, disabled people and supporters staged a victory march through Barnsley in South Yorkshire on Saturday after winning back free rail and bus travel for disabled people.

But they vowed to fight on to secure more concessions from public transport bosses for pensioners.

The campaigners mounted action by boarding trains en masse every week and refusing to pay fares after South Yorkshire Transport Authority axed free transport for pensioners and disabled people which forced transport chiefs to back down and reinstated free travel for disabled people. But pensioners will have to pay half-fare.

Their action was dubbed the “Freedom Rides” and led to confrontations between police, security staff and hundreds of “Freedom Riders” at Barnsley railway station.

After seven weeks of action transport chiefs backed down and reinstated free travel for disabled people. But pensioners will have to pay half-fare.

Dave Gibson, chairman of Barnsley Trades Council which supported the campaign, said: “At the end of the rally we voted unanimously to fight on for full re-instatement of free travel for older people.”

He paid tribute to the Morning Star for its role in publicising and supporting the campaign. Today (Monday) campaigners will lobby a South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive meeting.