Old folk are to get new smart cards for travelling on public transport in the island.

Go Silver smart cards will be issued to around 21,000 senior citizens on the island from Monday, April 3.

It replaces the 60+ senior citizen concessionary travel pass currently used.

The new card will have to be scanned on each journey made.

Travellers using the new Go Silver card will receive the same benefits and concessions as before:

Free bus travel on Bus Vannin on Public, Bank Holidays and weekends

Half fare travel on Bus Vannin before 0900 and between 1600-1730 hours on weekdays

Free travel on Bus Vannin between 0900 and 1600 and after 1730 hours on weekdays

Half fare travel on Bus Vannin’s night owl services

Half fare travel on the Manx Electric Railway, Snaefell Mountain Railway and Steam Railway after 9am

There is no concession on the horse trams.

However, season tickets for the railways are available. Horse tramway £20, Manx Electric Railway, Snaefell Mountain Railway and Steam Railway £37.50.

Jason Moorhouse MHK, whose responsibilities at the Department of Infrastructure include transport services, said: ’The introduction of the Go Silver smart travel card will continue to provide benefit to those senior citizens who travel regularly on Bus Vannin and supports the government objective to focus our services around the needs of our customers.’

Director of transport services Ian Longworth said: ’We are pleased to be able to continue to support our senior citizens through the introduction of the Go Silver smart travel card. The "touch and travel" card offers the same benefits to travellers whilst allowing transport services easier opportunity to analyse and review our services.’