Clwyd West MS Darren Millar has called on the Welsh Government to extend its Concessionary Travel Card scheme to include off-peak journeys on the North Wales railway line.

Currently, if your primary address is in Wales and you’re either aged 60 and over or meet the Government’s disability eligibility criteria, you can travel for free on most bus services in Wales and the borders and get discounted or free travel on some rail services.

However, while the scheme currently includes travel on the Conwy Valley line, it does not extend to the North Wales railway line.

Darren has been contacted by constituents who are keen for the North Wales line to be included and he therefore called for this to happen in yesterday’s Business Statement in the Welsh Parliament.

He said:

“I call for a statement from the Deputy Minister with responsibility for transport in relation to the Concessionary Travel Card scheme. I've been contacted by constituents in the Colwyn Bay area, who have asked whether it might be possible to extend the use of the concessionary travel cards to the off-peak periods along the North Wales railway line when there is capacity on that line to take more passengers.

“It takes over three hours to get by bus to Chester, for example, from Colwyn Bay; it takes just 46 minutes by train. If we really want to help people make this modal shift, which I know we're all aiming for, then it sounds to me, given that that line does have capacity, that it's a positive thing that we could do in order to extend the opportunity to use those travel cards on that particular line. So, I do think that that is something that should be considered.”

The Trenydd, Lesley Griffith MS, replied: “ the Deputy Minister for Climate Change is in his place and I'm sure he'll consider your request around extending concessionary travel in the way that you suggest.”

For more information about the Concessionary Travel Card or to apply for one visit: Concessionary Train Travel Senior Rail Tickets | TfW