Changes to concessionary rates of travel for pensioners announced in November are being introduced on Monday (30 March 2015).
Kate Beecroft MHK, Member responsible for Public Transport, said: ‘The revisions to the concessionary travel benefits are aimed at ensuring concessionary bus travel continues for pensioners to support social inclusion but introduces half fares at commuter travel times. This has dual benefits, reducing the load at peak times while ensuring pensioners who are still economically active contribute to their fare.
‘The decision was also taken to implement half fares for resident pensioners on our heritage rail services to reflect that this is overwhelmingly a leisure activity.
‘These measures offset the cost of last year’s decision to defer aligning the eligibility for pensioners’ travel concessions to the state retirement age. The new arrangements are part of a package of measures to help Government achieve its budget targets. Changes are needed to ensure the long-term sustainability of the Isle of Man’s bus services, which are currently subsidised to the tune of £5.5 million a year,’ Mrs Beecroft added.
The updated list of concessions for pensioners holding a valid 60+ travel card, which take effect from Monday, are below (changes in bold):
- Free travel on bus services on public holidays, bank holidays and weekends.
- Half fare travel on bus services before 9am Mondays to Friday and from 4pm to 5.30pm on weekdays.
- Free travel on bus services from 9amto 4pm and after 5.30pm on weekdays.
- Half fare on the Night Owl /Hullad Oie services.
- Half fare after 9am on scheduled services of the IoM Steam Railway.
- Half fare after 9am on scheduled services of the Manx Electric Railway.
- Half fare after 9am on scheduled services on the Snaefell Mountain Railway.
A further change is to allow free travel to accompanied under 5s on both bus and rail (excluding nursery or group travel).
The changes have been timed to coincide with the new bus timetable being introduced on Monday.
Pensioners can apply for a concessionary season ticket permitting unlimited travel on all three railways. Go Platinum Rail vouchers are available from Douglas Railway Station priced £75 adults, £37.50 concessions (children and pensioners). Vouchers can be used to travel until the Go Platinum rail cards become available. The cards will be valid for one year from the first day of use. More details tel +44 1624 697457.
