Ticketing and Concessionary Travel on Public Transport - United ...

Ev 110 Transport Committee: Evidence
Population Covered by Free or Low Flat Fare Schemes
Engl<strong>and</strong> 46%, Scotl<strong>and</strong> 53%, NI 100%, Wales (currently) under 1% <strong>and</strong> UK 46%.
Other Schemes
Some local authorities oVer 50% discount on local rail; others oVer a discount on the purchase of the £20
Seniors Railcard that oVers 33% discount on local <strong>and</strong> national rail fares.
Northern Irel<strong>and</strong>
From April 2007 NI pass holders will have free travel on buses, trains <strong>and</strong> trams in the Republic of
Irel<strong>and</strong>.
Community Railways
About 10 of the 50 CRs enjoy the concessions above.
National data—Barry Doe
APPENDIX 5
BUS AND TRAIN FARES—AUGUST 2006
Barry Doe is a respected independent consultant with a special interest in fares. He writes in Railway
Journals under the heading of “Faredealer”. He conducts surveys of bus <strong>and</strong> rail fares over the years
comparing rates per mile for singles, peak returns <strong>and</strong> oV peak returns. The quote below is from his latest
(August 2005) published survey.
“The tables here show that for all bar the 27-mile journeys there are always bus operators charging
more—sometimes significantly more—than rail, especially for oV-peak returns.”
Since the concession scheme is oV peak, this quote is particularly relevant.
Devon <strong>and</strong> Cornwall Data
The author compared bus <strong>and</strong> train fares on some Devon <strong>and</strong> Cornwall branch lines. As the statutory
concession scheme is oV peak, the appropriate oV peak fares were used. Often on longer bus trips or ones
requiring a change of bus, the bus operators oV peak day ticket was cheapest, if so it was used. Prices in £
Journey Cheapest OV Peak Fare DiVerence (% saving on bus
fare)
Bus Train
Bere Alston/Plymouth 6.00 3.50 2.50 (42%)
Falmouth/Truro 4.00 2.50 1.50 (38%)
Newquay/Par 6.00 3.50 2.50 (42%)
Barnstaple/Exeter 6.00 3.00 3.00 (50%)
Exmouth/Exeter Central 4.80 3.00 1.80 (38%)
Looe/Liskeard 2.20 3.00 "0.80 ("36%)
The first five examples have large group operators running the equivalent bus service. The last example
is operated by Western Greyhound (Small Operator of the Year Award winner for last two years). The local
data confirms the Barry Doe national data. The reimbursement process does not rely solely on published
ticket prices but they are a major determinant of the compensation that is paid to operators.
It would appear both at national <strong>and</strong> local level that savings could be made if a concession pass holder
travelled by local train rather than bus. The % savings above are significant <strong>and</strong> the average saving per pass
holder switching to CR from bus for the CRs above is £1.75. This figure may seem high compared to average
bus fares but the journeys here are the longer, higher fare local journeys.
APPENDIX 6
COST OF CONCESSION FARES ON TVL AND ALL COMMUNITY RAILWAYS
Data at aggregate level for CRs is not availble to the author The government’s Community Rail
Development Strategy has no data on overall passenger numbers, average fare or % of passengers who are
pensioners using CRs. These three items of data are needed to make an estimate of the cost of extending
concession fares to CRs. The author has used what data is available to him to make an estimate.