Grampian introduces half fares
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CHANGES are being made to Grampian Region's concessionary travel scheme for elderly and disabled. It came into operation last week, and entitles women aged over 60, living within the authority's area, to half-fare travel on buses and trains.
Grampian's concession card is obtainable from over 250 post offices and subpost offices. It extends the price reduction to disabled people, whose ability to walk is seriously impaired.
In addition to trains, concessionary travel will for the first time be available on every bus service in the Grampian region. This includes services provided by private operators in outlying points outside the region.
The reciprocal arrangement, already existing, between Grampian and Tayside, is to be continued.
The new card requires a passport-type photograph, but existing permits will remain valid during the six-mouth changeover period.
John Westaby, the region's director of public transporation, said the photo would minimise the possility of misuse. Grampian spends almost £2m a year on concessionary travel, and it was important to ensure that every penny was spent to the benefit of the elderly and disabled he said.
"We are acting to end an anomaly, which meant that although a woman aged 60 was entitled to a pension, she had to wait until her husband reached pensionable age before she, too, could claim a concessionary travel pass.
Our investigations suggest that local post offices are the most convenient places for the elderly and disabled to obtain their cards, and leaflets giving full details of the scheme are now available there," Mr Westaby added.