Don’t miss the bus
Concessionary travel card holders across Scotland are being urged to check their card type as some may stop working after 31 December 2016.
The change comes as Councils across Scotland replace older cards, with the OneScotland logo with newer ones to keep up to date with the latest smartcard technology used on buses, trains, ferries and the Glasgow Subway.
Gordon Hanning, Transport Scotland’s Head of Concessionary Travel and Integrated Ticketing said:
“Nearly all of the 1.3 million cards bearing the OneScotland logo have already been updated in a programme that started in August 2014, however there are a few old ones in circulation.
We want to ensure those passengers who haven’t yet had their OneScotland card upgraded aren’t inconvenienced by calling on them to renew their card now, even if it doesn’t expire for several weeks.
Newer style cards, which will either have the saltirecard or the mygovscot logo on the front, do not need to be replaced.
If you or someone you know uses a card for concessionary travel then you may need to act now. If it has the OneScotland logo and you haven’t received a replacement already phone the number on the back of the card for advice on how to get a new card.”
This successful replacement programme has been achieved through excellent partnership working between local and central government, Young Scot and the bus industry.
Finally, Transport Scotland has been working with bus operators to ensure older and disabled and young passengers will be assisted if they don’t have their updated bus pass in January.
For more information visit the Transport Scotland website
http://www.transport.gov.scot/public-transport/concessionary-travel-people-aged-60-or-disability
Background
• A programme is in place to replace OneScotland national entitlement cards which are used for concessionary travel by anyone aged 60 or over or anyone who has received a card on grounds of disability. Young Scot cards with the OneScotland logo are also being replaced. These cards will not function from the 1st Januuary 2017.
• Out of 1.3 million cardholders well over 1.2 million have been sent updated cards however, local authorities have been unable to verify names and addresses for 43,000 cardholders. Out of the 43,000 cardholders, approximately 16,200 cards have been used in the last 3 months.
• Transport Scotland has agreed a process with the Confederation of Passenger Transport to ensure that cardholders who have not received a new card will still be allowed to travel if they present a card with a 31/12/16 expiry date.
• Guidance has already been issued to all bus operators in Scotland to pass on to their drivers to ensure consistency throughout Scotland.
• Card Holders with MyGovScot or Saltirecard national entitlement cards do not need to do anything. Their cards will continue to work in January.