New study offers bus pass holders a third off train travel

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the First Great Western press release:

Older and disabled people with bus passes will be able to get a third off train travel as part of a twelve-month First Great Western and Department for Transport (DfT^» (Department for Transport - about)) experiment.

Launched on Sunday by Rail Minister Norman Baker to encourage more older and disabled people to use trains, the trial means concessionary bus pass holders will be able to claim discounted fares on two test routes without purchasing an annual Senior Railcard, which costs ^28.

The scheme will apply to standard off-peak fares between Worcester and Swindon via Stroud, and between Westbury and Weymouth.

Mark Hopwood, First Great Western Managing Director, said: ^First Great Western is privileged to provide services to some of the country's leading destinations and our branch lines to Worcester and Weymouth are symbolic of that. We are delighted to be able to take part in this trial, which should help improve access for senior citizens and people with disabilities to the services that we offer.^ 

The DfT will be assessing the trial keenly to see if a wider and more permanent application might be merited.

Rail Minister Norman Baker said: ^This is great news for bus pass holders and hopefully they will take full advantage of the discounts on offer through this innovative scheme. Everybody is feeling the squeeze at the moment and this trial will help older and disabled people save money while traveling on these two important railway lines.

^The railways are not only a crucial part of our country^s economic growth but they also provide a valuable link for families and friends. I am confident this scheme will help bolster those links and provide real benefits to those who need it most.^

Campaigning groups including the National Pensioner^s Convention and Unite have previously lobbied for concessionary bus passes to be used as a senior railcard, and believe it will lead to higher numbers of older and disabled people purchasing rail tickets.

The DfT will work with First Great Western to examine the commercial viability of the scheme with a final report due in November next year.

[bobm]

Twelve month experiment.... doesn't that take it past the start date for the new franchise?   

[Andrew1939 from West Oxon]

It could encourage some of those people who only occasionally travel by rail to travel a little more. My wife's Senior railcard expired a year ago last July and whilsy it had been used enough in the previous year to justify the ^28 cost we thought it unlikely that we would used enough since then to justify the spend of ^28. A spend of more thgan ^80 is necessary just to make enough saving to recover the cost and as she has made only few rail journeys in the past year it was the correct decision not to waste money on its purchase. Its a pity the new conession cannot be use on the Cotswold Line.

[JayMac]

I don't no whether a 10% reduction in Railcard price would make much difference for you Andrew1939, but buying a Senior Railcard online currently reduces the cost to ^25.20. Offer available until the end of September.

Also if you have Tesco Clubcard vouchers to the value of ^14 you can use them to pay for a Senior Railcard.

[TonyK]

Also if you have Tesco Clubcard vouchers to the value of ^14 you can use them to pay for a Senior Railcard.

Which I hope is still happening in 3 years time, when I hit the magic number, if I behave myself.

[thetrout]

Sorry to bring an old thread back to life. But is this discount available from a TVM^▸ (Ticket Vending Machine) or onboard with an Avantix^▸ (Ticket Issuing System used on board trains)?

Just curious as a friend has a Bus Pass and not a railcard and they were looking to go to Yeovil on the Train rather than the 'round the houses' bus approach!

[Andrew1939 from West Oxon]

Is Yeovil on one of the few routes where a bus pass can be used?