Popular concessionary rail scheme extended
27 Mar 2014 03:55 PM
Transport Minister, Edwina Hart, has announced
an extension of the concessionary rail scheme in rural Mid and North Wales
until March 2015, and it will now be open to all free bus pass holders in
Wales
The
scheme which operates on the Conwy Valley Line between Blaenau Ffestiniog and
Llandudno, the Welsh section of the Wrexham – Bidston Line, the Cambrian
Coast and Heart of Wales lines, was previously only available to free bus pass
holders from the local authorities in which the scheme
operated.
There are more than 720,000 concessionary pass holders
in Wales, including Armed forced personnel and veterans.
The
scheme, which has been funded by the Welsh Government since 2007, complements
the concessionary bus fares scheme to provide access to public transport in
areas where bus services are limited.
It
operates year round on the Borderlands and Conwy Valley Lines and during the
autumn and winter months on the Heart of Wales and Cambrian Coast
Lines.
Transport Minister, Edwina Hart, said:
“This popular scheme demonstrates our commitment
to providing access to sustainable transport in Wales and is an important
service for the elderly and disabled in our rural communities.
“I am very pleased that we are now able to extend
free travel on these lines to all free bus pass holders in Wales, so they can
still get access to public transport wherever they are in the
country.”
Links
Concessionary rail fares