Important news on the concessionary fares scheme
As somebody who has used the Government's half price coach ticket scheme, we want to give you some important information.
The scheme currently provides up to half price travel for over 60 year olds and disabled people through Government funding.
The Government has announced that this funding will end on 31 October 2011 as part of its spending cuts programme.
While we are looking to introduce a replacement scheme, without the government funding it is not possible to make discounts as high and the cost of travel will increase for you.
We have written to the Government to ask that they reconsider this decision. We have also written to a number of MPs to raise our concerns. Many MPs have told us they agree and have written to ministers at the Department for Transport to ask them whether they have considered the potential impact on eligible passengers' ability to travel.
From your letters and emails, we know that many of you rely on the half price fares. Some have also expressed concern that without it, they may not be able to travel. If you share these concerns, perhaps you could write to, or email, your local MP to encourage them to raise your concern with the Department for Transport.
If you wish to write to your local MP we have included a letter template that you may want to use, simply add your details, print and send.We will be in touch soon with more information on how you can take advantage of the half price travel scheme before it ends.
Richard Lomas
