Police confronted by Rotherham public transport campaigners

Alan Trickett from Thurcroft, who refuses to pay to ride on public transport after free passes were cut last year, was among around 80 demonstrators at a rally outside Sheffield station on Tuesday.

The demo is part of a campaign to keep up the pressure on transport bosses after senior citizens were left facing half fare in South Yorkshire and full price elsewhere.

The rally also involved a protest on the platform where Freedom Riders George Arthur and Anthony Nuttall were arrested a year earlier.

Police action against them was dropped last autumn but Mr Trickett — who noted Tuesday’s demo was “much more peaceful than last year” — said the protest group would not be happy until they received a full formal apology from British Transport Police — and free train travel for OAPs was restored.

“We are keeping up the fight and we want a proper apology,” he said.

“We also want reassurances that it won’t happen again.

“At least someone was prepared to talk to us — although the Superintendent we spoke to said it was basically nothing to do with him he said he would pass it on to some at a higher level.

“We  want them to restore the free passes we had before, plus the benefits they have in other areas.

“In Merseyside they get the pass at 60 can travel for free on trains, buses and ferries, while in London they can use the underground.

“In South Yorkshire you have to wait until you’re 65 and even then you only get half-fare.”

Reflecting on the impact of the free travel axe, Mr Trickett added: “It has certainly hit me because I used to go on the train about once a week but I won’t now — I object on principle to paying for a service which should be free.”

Last June, free train travel for the disabled was reinstated and half fares for older people introduced after months of campaigning by the Freedom Riders.

Barnsley Retirees Action Group, which co-ordinates the campaign, is now keen to meet transport bosses to discuss their grievances.