Thousands of people across the West Midlands are reminded that the deadline is approaching to renew their concessionary travel pass. A total of 120,000 older people are to get replacement smart passes issued by Centro, the region’s transport authority.

Their old passes expire on August 31 and Sarah Jones, Centro’s Head of Customer Services, said: “We would urge anyone who hasn’t done so already to check their pass. If it expires on August 31 2012 and they have not received a letter inviting them to renew they should contact us.

“We have written to everyone on our database whose pass expires on August 31. These letters were sent out in June but it is always possible that some people may not have received them.

“If you haven’t, please let us know straight away. Our dedicated helpline is available between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday and we can easily renew a travel pass over the telephone.”

The English National Concessionary pass was introduced in 2008 and provides free off-peak travel on buses across England for older people.

Centro administers the scheme locally on behalf of the Department for Transport.

The concession is enhanced within the West Midlands with free, off-peak travel on trains and trams across the region.

The original smart passes expired in four batches - March 2012, August 2012, March 2013 and April 2013 and Centro is currently processing the August 2012 renewals. Customers with passes expiring in 2013 will receive their renewal letters nearer to the expiry date.

Renewal letters have not been sent to blind and disabled pass holders as a separate process applies to these customers.

Centro writes to these pass holders, whose continued eligibility for a travel pass has to be reassessed, three months prior to their passes expiring.