Important information regarding concessionary fares from national express

Important news on the concessionary fares scheme

For those of you who have used the Government's half price coach ticket, we want to give you some important information. The scheme currently provides up to half price travel for the over 60 year olds and disabled people through Government funding. The Government has announced that this funding will end on October 31st 2011 as part of its spending cuts programme.

While we are look ing to introduce a replacement scheme, without the Government funding it is not possible to make discounts as high and the cost of travel will increase for all of our over 60's customers. We have written to the Government to ask that they reconsider their decision on this issue. We have also written to a number of MP's to raise our concerns with them. Many MP's have told us that they agree and have written to ministers at the Department of Transport to ask them whether they have considered the potential impact on eligible passengers ability to travel.

From your letters and emails, we know that many of you rely on the half price fares. Some people have expressed the concern that without it, they may not be able to travel. If you share these concerns, perhaps you could write to, or email, your local MP to encourage them to raise your concern with the Department of Transport.

Yours sincerely

Andrew Cleaves

Managing Director - National Express, Coach 

View of the Midlands TUC Pensioners Network

Its very important that all retired members who read this letter should write a letter to their MP's and make them aware that in this alleged big society of ours, that it is the people at the bottom of the pile (this includes many pensioners) who are most badly affected by these Government cuts. We expect them to take this case up vigoursly, and stress that many of the poorer pensionesr will be unable to travel and have a short brak or visit relatibves, it will also cost drivers jobs, please get writing those letters and do not be shy at making your views known, there is no time to be lost.

PS. It would be very useful if people who write or have already written to their MP on this subject, would be kind enough to communicate with this blog and let us know if they get a response from their MP.