Cheap fares by law
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A NEW national scheme that will give concessionary half fares to the elderly, blind and disabled is contained in a new Government Green Paper published this week.
The scheme is designed to provide a minimum level of concession nationwide and' would cover all off-peak train and bus journeys locally.
Councils not already providing a concession scheme would be obliged to do so under the new plans.
The Government plans to introduce legislation implementing the scheme in the next session of Parliament. Consultations between interested parties will take several months.
Local authorities will have a statutory duty to ensure that concessions are available.' They will be expected to, negotiate with bus operators on reimbursement levels.
The Green Paper states that operators should not suffer. losses through the concessiot nary fares but they should not expect to make a profit on journeys that might not otherwise have been made.