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CONCESSIONARY travel schemes for
OVER 60'S AND disabled people
TravelWatch East Midlands
The following information has been compiled by TravelWatch East Midlands
from a variety of sources and was to the best of our knowledge correct as
at 21 June 2008 (but see below about changes made from April 2009). We cannot therefore accept responsibility for any
loss resulting from use of this information, but please contact us should
you find any error or omission. If you are OVER 60 or disabled and do not currently benefit from the concession
you are advised to contact the local authority in which you reside.
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In April 2008 the Government introduced a scheme for all District Councils in England to provide FREE OFF-PEAK BUS TRAVEL to eligible residents. Councils are at liberty to add to the basic scheme, but MOST “ADD-ONS” APPLY ONLY TO RESIDENTS WITHIN THAT COUNCIL’S AREA.
FROM APRIL 2009 the Government made some changes, but contrary to some media reports, these are relatively minor and the Government claims simply “clarify” what users are entitled to.
The following services are now excluded from the scheme:
- services on which the majority of seats can be reserved in advance of travel (express coach-type services)
- services that do not run for a period of at least six consecutive weeks (short-term buses for special events)
- services operated primarily for their historical interest or for tourism (sightseeing services which charge premium fares and may provide a commentary or tour, as well as services operated because the vehicle is of historic value). Service buses that call at attractions such as Chatsworth remain within the scheme
- rail replacement services
- services where the fare charged by the operator has a special amenity element (some, but not all, park & ride services).
Councils are free to include any of these exempted services in their local scheme, but receive no funding from Government for doing so.
Most of the changes have little effect for the East Midlands as few coach services were eligible for free travel. In the case of Park and Ride, whilst services which are solely to the car park are excluded, we understand that services that pick up en-route from other points as well as the car park (e.g. Nottingham Link 1 and 2, Derby 111) can still offer free travel, but NOT to people travelling to/from the park & ride facility.
For an overview of the scheme
click here.
For frequently asked questions
click here.
For more details of the schemes in different parts of the region, click the
appropriate county:
LONG DISTANCE SERVICES
Local authority passes are not valid on coaches or long-distance trains,
but discounts are available.
On National Express coaches, over 60's are carried for half fare at off peak
times. Click here for
more information.
For train travel, a Senior Citizen (or Disabled) Railcard can be purchased
(currently for £24) giving a discount of around one third on most tickets.
For more information click here.
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