Passenger Counting In Greater Manchester
In February 2019 Transport for Greater Manchester has confirmed that the figures on the official ORR website for station patronage within Greater Manchester do not include any figures for passengers traveling on Senior Citizens free passes. This means that the figures stated are below the actual figures. In West Yorkshire those using the passes have to purchase a half fare ticket so their journeys are counted. The unrecorded number of journeys may vary between 11% and 25%, but perhaps 15% is a realistic figure until more accurate data is available. Applying a 15% uplift underlines how vital a more frequent service than two trains an hour already is at Mills Hill and Littleborough and with the projected large housebuilding programmes at Castleton and Smithy Bridge, soon will be at those stations as well.