Bus-pass pensioners in Scotland

From April 1st this year OAPs and disabled persons living in Scotland
have been given bus passes which allow them to travel the length and
breadth of Scotland by bus for free.

I wonder what happens to people living in Dumfries and who want to go
for a day's shopping to Carlisle. Can they use their free bus pass to
Gretna and pay the normal fare for the extra journey to Carlisle and
back to Gretna or do they have to alight in Gretna and wait for the
next bus to get to Carlisle?

People living in England have to wait till April 2008 to get an
all-England bus pass but there will still be problems for people
living near the border. Why don't the authorities recognise that the
UK is one sovereign state and issue a pan-UK bus pass?

Lurker...

(delurk)

Rabbit...

< Me jumps up and waves at Lurker, hello and welcome>

Your concerns for the good citizens of Dumfries, while admirable, are
unnecessary. The new Scottish scheme allows free return travel from
anywhere in Scotland to Carlisle and Berwick-upon-Tweed. Already this
month I have travelled free twice from Dumfries to Carlisle

Derek F...

I was surprised to recently learn that prior to April 1st that bus pass
holders in Edinburgh had been able to travel free to Berwick on Tweed on
Perrymans busses.
The situation on City Link busses (apart from Edinburgh to Glasgow) is that
you have to reserve your seat and pay a 50p booking fee.

Alasdair...

Anita...

We have had free bus and underground passes for years in London.
If we venture outside London we have to pay the difference from London
to wherever.
Why don't you suggest to them that the issue a pan-UK bus pass and see
what they say !

Splodge...

I read something in the paper yesterday that even after April 2008 you would
only get free local travel. So much for the "big" Budget pronouncements from

Alasdair...

Which paper was that? OAPs and disabled people get free local travel
at the moment in England. I understood Gordon Brown to have said that

Lurker...

(delurk)

No they don't! Some English local authorities run concessionary travel
schemes which simply provide cheaper (rather than free) travel. This may
involve paying a flat rate fair (20p or 40p or 50p) for each journey.
Also, travel is usually restricted to local journeys outwith peak times.

Ali...

Can you tell us which local authorities these are? I was under the
impression that from April 2006, free travel for over 60s and disabled was
compulsory on local authorities.

The new Scottish Scheme allows people to travel freely, and free,
throughout Scotland, including rush hour travel
There are plans to extend the scheme to include one-stop, long distance
journeys from Scotland to England eg Glasgow/Edinburgh to London.

from April 2008 the concession would be extended to a pan-England
pass.

For details, have a look at

Lurker...

I also understood Gordon Bown to have said something like that
(actually, I think he talked about residents in England getting
concessionary travel throughout the UK) but since then I gather that
many English councils have refused to co-operate with such a proposal,
claiming inadequate funding.

Splodge...

It was in either the DT or the DM. What Gordon says will happen ain't
necessarily so I'm afraid. The Councils are not getting enough funding from
the government for this free pan-UK travel, and I think it was discussed on
this group some while ago. Some are increasing the Council Tax to pay for
it, and some have made it quite clear they won't let people have free travel
across their County if they come from a different area.

I'm not saying it won't happen, but I get the impression April 2008 is too
optimistic a date. And besides, it might get forgotten when TB and Co get
chucked out at the next General Election.

Gordon Brown. I can just imagine what they would say if anyone asked for
that pan-UK pass Anita:((

Bigbazza...

Interesting to see how your Government works in different things..In this
case looking after the OAP's....Maybe their are not a lot of voted coming
from the 'Grey' Section of the population !

In Oz...All things are managed between the Federal Government and the
various State Governments .... I live in the state of NSW (New South
Wales)...Up until about 6 months ago.....we were paying $1:10 (used to be
50c and then 60c and rose to $1 over a period of some 15 years or so ....Now
that entitled both OAP's and ALL people over age of 60 (working or not

Ali...

While the posters to this thread have mentioned OAPs, the passes are
actually available to everyone over 60.

..even if a multi-millionaire) to all train travel within Sydney and all
outer suburbs (and Sydney goes a mighty long way out in all directions
(except of course East ,,or you would be taking a sea trip ..) and for
another $1 to stretch a couple of hundred Km around ...also all Government
Transport (Buses, Ferries,Trains)..the one ticket can be used all day and
evening up until 4 AM next day....And recently they increased it to $2:50
and now ALL private buses are included as well !

Also..The Federal government issues everyone over 65 a Pensioner Card and
entitles us to many free services including 2 free Return Train trips a year
to anywhere in Australia..To the nearest City in any State and then 1/2 fare
from there on !

Also in NSW a 'Seniors' card is issued to anyone over the age of 60 who can
work up to 20 hours a week...This entitles all to get even 'Cheaper'
discounts and entry fee's to various events and entertainments .like the
movies ,etc..

Splodge

Anita...

Doesn't bear thinking about, Jan :(

Is that pre or post April 1st., 2006?

Derek F...

For citizens of Edinburgh it is post April 1st. Glaswegians had free travel
over most of the the West of Scotland for the past few years.
Derek.

Derek.

Rabbit...

No, no come back and let us get to know you, we don't eat delurkers. 'Sides
the Scottish contingent in here needs more support :-)

Mike Tullett...

Here in Ireland, there is free travel (bus, rail, the lot) for all over 65
and it applies whether one is in the North (as I am) or in the Republic of
Ireland. So if two separate states can do it here, I'm sure two areas
within the same state can do likewise.

Rabbit...

'Cos that's too sensible for politicians to think of :-) Welcome to UPS
Alisdair, are you going to stick around and let us get to know you? Are you
from north of the border BTW ? Our Scottish contingent is very small ( but
quality ;-)) so if you are from God's Own Country you will be doubly welcome
:-)