The Anonymous Widower

Bus Pass On Rails

Modern Railways is reporting that the government is doing an experiment with First Great Western, whereby a concessionary bus-pass can effectively be used as a Senior Railcard.

I have both and it would be one less card to lose, if I had to carry just one card. The Freedom Pass also has a photograph and I have used it where a photo ID is required.

I also have to show both cards, when I go to Ipswich, by buying a ticket from the Zone 6 boundary to Ipswich, as I do the London end of the journey on my Freedom Pass.

I don’t know how many concessionary bus passes and Senior Railcards are in circulation, but abolishing the Senior Railcard and using the concessionary bus-pass wouldn’t be very affordable in these times of financial restraint.

But then the experiment may show that if those with bus-passes got rail travel with a third off, the extra revenue might pay for the scheme.

It certainly seems an idea that will eventually be implemented.

Especially, as it would be a real vote winner for the party that brought it in. Especially, if they tied up the rules, so that bus-passes worked under the same restrictions nationwide.

September 30, 2012 - Posted by AnonW | Transport/Travel | Buses, First Great Western Trains, Freedom Pass, Politics, Trains