Shadow Minister for North Wales and Clwyd West MS Darren Millar has called again for concessionary travel cards to work on the North Wales railway line at off-peak times.

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 has repeatedly raised it with Ministers in the Senedd chamber. Speaking in the Senedd this week, he made the call again when responding to the Statement by the Deputy Minister for Climate Change: The Welsh Government’s Response to the North Wales Transport Commission.

He said:

“One of the issues that I don't think was investigated sufficiently by the North Wales Transport Commission was an opportunity for modal shift along the North Wales coast by transferring more car users onto the rail network by the introduction of an opportunity to use concessionary travel cards on the North Wales railway line at off-peak periods.

“We know that there are times of the day when there's plenty of capacity on the North Wales line and we should encourage people to use it by giving free rail transport to free bus pass holders at off-peak times. That could shift people from their cars onto the North Wales line if they want to travel from places such as Bangor, Llandudno, Colwyn Bay or Rhyl, to Chester, for example.

“I wonder, Minister, whether this is something that you will ask your officials to look at the feasibility of, because I think it's a huge opportunity that we should seize.”

Responding the Minister said he agrees that “Concessionaries shouldn't just be for older people; this should be available to all people, to encourage, as you say, empty trains to be filled with passengers” and said in his speech to TfW setting out their next steps, he has asked them “to look at a different model for pricing of rail”.

Speaking afterwards, Darren added:

“If we are going to get more people off the roads then we need to provide a rail service that is affordable. Some of the off-speak trains are running with many empty seats, let’s reduce fares or give over 60s free rail travel and get people on them.”