WIREDGOV

The Minster with responsibility for Transport, Carl Sargeant, has recently confirmed that the popular concessionary rail fares scheme is to continue on four rural routes across Wales for a two year period.

As a result of this decision, eligible Cerdyn Cymru pass-holders in Carmarthenshire and Powys will be able to travel on the Heart of Wales line while Gwynedd pass-holders will be able to use the Cambrian Coast line during the winter months - from 3 October.  

Concessionary fares will also continue on the Borderlands and Conwy Valley lines for a further two years for eligible Cerdyn Cymru pass holders in Conwy, Gwynedd, Flintshire and Wrexham - until 30 September 2013 .

Carl Sargeant said,

“The concessionary rural rail scheme demonstrates our commitment to sustainable transport in Wales and is a positive example of the Welsh Government, working in close partnership with local authorities, to deliver for the elderly and disabled in our rural communities.

“The scheme continues to be very popular and will continue to address our goals of decreasing private car use, increasing the use of public transport, reducing rural isolation and strengthening our rural communities.”

The Welsh Government is funding the concessionary fares rail scheme over the next two years with additional funding contributions from Conwy, Gwynedd, Powys, Carmarthenshire, Flintshire and Wrexham local authorities.

Both the Heart of Wales and Cambrian Coast schemes will run for six months from 3 October 2011 until 31 March 2012 and from 1 October 2012 until 31 March 2013.

A recent independent evaluation report of the scheme completed by the Wales Transport Research Centre revealed that free rail travel is changing travel behaviour and reducing car use – with 74% of survey respondents stating that they now use the train more often as a result of the scheme.

A total of 95,091 concessionary rail journeys were made in Wales in 2010/11 which was an increase of 9% compared to 2009/10.

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