Committee Reports > List of Committees > Joint > 1999 > Committee on Family, Community and Social Affairs > Report - Proposal to establish a senior Euro card

APPENDIX 1 FREE / CONCESSIONARY TRAVEL - EUROPE

Following my request (made to individual Embassies located in this country and abroad); I have received the following information regarding Free/Concessionary travel for older people both inside and outside the European Union.

Italy

•Urban Transport: a reduction in subscriptions is foreseen according to the provisions laid out by individual municipal authorities.

•Rail Transport: the “Carta d’Argento” (Silver Card) is available to those who have reached the age of 60 offering a 40% reduction in 1^st class and 20% in 2^nd class. The Silver Card is renewable annually and costs LIT.40.000 (IRL £16).

•Air Transport: the Italian national airline Alitalia offers those who have reached the age of 60 various air fares for national, international and intercontinental travel.

There is no entry fee to monuments, museums, galleries, ancient sites, State-run parks and gardens for citizens over the age of 60.

The above facilities are extended to Italian citizens. Only those relating to rail transport are applicable also to foreign citizens for transport on Italian territory.

Germany

Germany is divided into 16 Lander. Whilst they have always enjoyed a considerable amount of autonomy, even more emphasis has been placed on this over the past ten years. Each Land has its own administration, and policies vary extensively, particularly in areas such as cultural activities and transport.

Train: The Deutsche Bundesbahn (DB) offers a “BahnCard” entitling the holder to reduced fares. Anyone can purchase a BahnCard, but from the age of 60 the price is reduced by 50%.

Air Travel: (Lufthansa) Offers fare concessions on domestic flights for all persons over the age of 65. A 25% reduction is given on “Express-Tarif” tickets (weekend away). Elderly people taking advantage of this reduction must comply with the conditions applicable to these tickets, which vary according to the type of ticket. No reductions for older people on international.flights.

Local Transport Systems:

Berlin: - The city is divided in two and in both zones, monthly and yearly season tickets are available, with a discount for persons over the age of 65 or in receipt of a pension. The reduction on a monthly season ticket for older people is 10%. A ferry company, which operates on Berlin’s rivers also offers, discounts to persons over 60. In 1992, this was DM 3.00.

Bonn:- There are no fare concessions for older people in Bonn, though there are for the disabled.

Dusseldorf:- There are no fare concessions for older people here.

Hamburg:- Public transport in Hamburg is grouped together in a single system. A monthly season ticket is available for older people, the holders of which can travel free in the Hamburg area after 9.oo on weekdays and at any time at weekends. This ticket is available to persons over the age of 63, regardless of nationality or residence (1993).

France

The elderly can avail of the Carte Senior for concessionary railway travel once they are over 60 years of age. This card is available from any SNCF office for a cost of 285FF and is valid for 1 year. As it is, there are no general regulations to provide discount on the sole basis of age.

Luxembourg

By virtue of the Ministerial rule of 30 November 1990 fixing the tariffs for public service transport, article 9 (1), people having reached the age of 65 are entitled to a 50% reduction in the tariff for the network season ticket.

This reduced season ticket of 700 Luxembourg francs gives that person unlimited travel for 31 days from the day of the first use of the ticket throughout all the public transport network of the Grand Duchy.

Free travel exists for all holders of a disabled card.

United-Kingdom

The position in the UK is very complex. Under the law at present, local authorities have powers to implement concessionary travel schemes for their residents of pensionable age - namely men aged 65 years and over, and women aged 60 years and over. This eligibility has been statutorily linked to the state pension age since 1955. The differences in eligibility for travel concessions between men and women do not contravene the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 (as eligibility depends on pensionable age).

Local authorities from their council tax and business rates fund concessionary travel schemes, with the assistance from Central Government (distributed by formulae using the Standard Spending Assessment).

In accordance with the Pensions Act 1995, pensionable age for men and women will be equalised at 65 years of age, over a transitional period from 2010 to 2020.

OUTSIDE LONDON

The Transport Act 1985 provided for the extension of the categories of those residents eligible for concessions at the discretion of local authorities. Individual Passenger Transport Authorities (in the Metropolitan areas) and Local Authorities make their own decisions on what concessionary fare scheme to provide for their resident pensioners, disabled and blind people, in light of their judgement of local needs and circumstances, and their overall financial priorities. There are now 12 such categories:

1.Men aged over 65 and women aged over 60

2.Persons whose age does not exceed 16 years

3.Persons whose age exceeds 16 years but does not exceed 18 years and who are undergoing full-time education

4.Blind persons

5.Persons suffering from any disability or injury which, in the opinion of the authority responsible for the administration of the scheme, seriously impairs their ability to walk

6.Persons who are suffering from mental handicap or severe mental handicap

7.Persons to whom the Secretary of State has refused to grant driving licences, or whose driving licences have been revoked for e.g. On medical grounds

8.Persons who are deaf or dumb

9.Persons who are partially sighted

10.Persons who are without the use of both arms

11.Specified companions of eligible persons

At the time of deregulation of the bus industry outside London, the intention was that bus operators should be neither advantaged nor disadvantaged by membership of a concessionary travel scheme. To that end provision was made to give operators of eligible services a right to participate in any concessionary fare scheme established for an area in which they ran services, and to give local authorities the powers needed to require operators of such services to participate in a scheme if they were unwilling to do so on a voluntary basis.

The total cost of concessionary fares to local authorities outside London is around £350 million (GB) or about £295 million (England) per annum.

GREATER LONDON

The situation in the Greater London area is quite different from the position elsewhere. The London concessionary travel scheme is governed by the London Regional Transport Act 1984, which provides that any local authority, or two or more authorities acting jointly, may enter into arrangements with London Transport (LT) to grant travel concessions to eligible London residents. If all 33 local authorities in London fail to agree on a uniform scheme then LT is required to implement a reserve scheme; but that provision has never had to be invoked.

There are 3 categories of eligible residents defined in the 1984 Act; essentially, they are people who are elderly, blind or disabled. This is more restrictive than the legislation for the rest of the country.

The present free fare scheme operates after 9am on LT bus and Underground services, Docklands Light Rail and (generally) after 9.30am on the ATOC rail services in Greater London. There is no time restriction at all for blind people on LT buses and Underground services, or Docklands Light Rail or at weekends/public holidays for elderly and disabled people. Apart from the extension to non-LT railways, the present scheme has applied largely unchanged since the 1984 Act came into force.

The provision of bus services in London is regulated in the sense that bus operators may only enter that market with the agreement of London Transport Buses (LTB). LTB is responsible for the planning and control of the London Bus network and does this by running competitions for the route contracts or allowing entry by agreement for services where the operator will bear the costs. Entry by bus operators to the London Boroughs concessionary travel scheme is also controlled: the agreement with LTB is that it applies only to services that are part of the London Bus network.

The present scheme costs the London Boroughs together in excess of £132 million per annum.

•The Government want to see all pensioners in England get a minimum discount of half price travel on buses on payment of no more than £5 for an annual travel pass.

•Last year, some £441 million was spent this way (Discounts by Local Authority) in England, Scotland and Wales (1993).

There are no plans to disturb these general arrangements. But in the Transport White Paper issued last year (1998), Ministers announced the intention to guarantee all pensioners at least half-fares on buses, on payment of a maximum of £5 per year for an annual travel pass. Nearly half of all local authorities in England are currently believed to operate less generous schemes, and they will have to be changed. Primary legislation will be needed and will be brought forward when parliamentary time is found.

Welsh Ministers have already put in place funding for a minimum standard half-fare scheme in Wales, and plan to move to free travel for pensioners in the next ⅔ years. Scottish Ministers intend to develop with local authorities and transport operators a Scottish national free travel scheme for blind people on a voluntary basis. There is no proposal to establish a mandatory half-fare scheme for Pensioners but the Scottish Parliament will have the power to do so if it wishes. Northern Ireland has a Government run half fare for elderly people over the age of 65.

Commercial discounts are available for holders of the (GB) Train Operators’ “Senior Railcard” (which costs £18 per annum). This provides for a third off “on day trips and holidays anywhere in the country”, including “most fares for through-rail/ship journeys to Belfast and stations in Northern Ireland via Stranraer to Belfast”.

Republic of Estonia

Persons over the age of 70 years and who are Estonian citizens can travel free on city buses. If they wish to travel from city to city there is a nominal charge and conditions. These conditions vary from region to region.

Netherlands

People residing here, who are 65 years or over, can obtain at any railway station/city hall a so-called “bejaardenpas” (senior citizen pass) for Dfl. 100 per annum. This pass entitles them to a discount of 40% whenever they purchase a train, bus or tram ticket.

There are however, a few restrictions. Discount is not valid when travelling during rush hour. During the summer months, however, these restrictions do not apply. Moreover, the pass gives the right to travel 7 days a year completely free within the Netherlands.

Non-residents, being members of the EU, can obtain when showing their EU travel document, a so-called “roze strippenkaart” (a pink strip card) from any post-office in the Netherlands. This strip card gives a 40% discount as well.

Czech Republic

There are lower fare rates available to the elderly over the age of 60. In the rail and inter-city bus transport the concessions result from a yearly price regulation decree of the Ministry of Finance. In the city public transport they are adopted spontaneously by individual city transport companies. Also Czech airlines offer lower rates to the elderly. The various rate formulas applied in different transport sectors effectively translate into discounts ranging from 50 to 100 per cent off the standard fare. The 50% discount is typical for the rail fare whereas the 100% discounts are granted by public transport companies in some municipalities.

Denmark

Free Travel is not available on application to elderly over the age of 66 years but they do get concessionary travel.

The Government lays down the broad framework for the local and regional bus transport regulation. The Government has delegated the authority to decide to what extent the local authorities will offer reduced prices on bus fares. Most local authorities offer reduced prices on bus cards up to 50% to everybody over the age of 67 years without application. In some parts of Denmark the local authorities have agreed to lower the age limit to 65 years. Regarding train fares, the elderly people can travel on reduced fares from the age of 65 years.

An elderly person on pension may, under the Act of Pension, apply for further reduced rate travel depending on his/her personal needs e.g. if they are disabled or need special medical care. The decision on reduced fares is made by the local authorities in the light of each individual case. .

Spain

As a general rule, the elderly enjoy free travel cards on application. The organisation and management of the urban and regional transport has been devolved to the Municipalities and the Autonomous Communities. Therefore, each one runs the public transport on its own.

In the case of the nationwide train network, the public company which runs it - RENFE - offers discounts to people over 65 years of age.

FINLAND

In the law, there are statements only concerning disabled persons. They get a certain amount of concessionary travel facilities per month.

The Finnish Railway Company also supports travelling of the elderly. The company regulates the prices of tickets and they also have some other rules.

Communal bus companies also sell cheaper tickets to the elderly, but they have different rules in different towns. The situation is the same with different private bus companies.

HUNGARY

The travel facilities regarding free or concessionary travel are regulated in Hungary by the Government Decree No. 287/1997 (XIL29). According to this decree, different levels of concessionary travel facilities are granted to different groups of people (e.g. elderly, pensioners, students, handicapped etc) who are indigent due to their social circumstances. The facilities for the Elderly are:

Pensioners

1.50% fare for yearly 16 travels + 90% fare for two travels (Railway).

2.50% fare for yearly 16 travels + 90% fare for two travels (Intercity Coach).

3.Monthly ticket of 67.5% fare (Local Bus).

4.Monthly ticket of 90% fare (Local Area Rapid Train).

5.Monthly ticket of 67.5% (Ship, ferry).

Over 65’s

1.Free (2^nd class) (Railway).

2.Free (Intercity Coach)

3.Free (Local Bus)

4.Free (Local Area Rapid Train).

5.Free for beyond 70 years (Ship, ferry).

AUSTRIA

The Federal Railway and bus system grants a 50% fare reduction to men aged 65 and over and to women aged 60 and over. In order to be eligible, the individuals have to obtain a reduced-fare rail pass, which is available from all railway stations against an annual fee.

Senior Citizens, who receive a complementary allowance, an additional pension under the War Victim Relief Act or permanent social assistance may obtain the rail pass free of charge.

POLAND

Retired people, pensioners, women over 60 years and over and men 65 years and over are entitled to a 50% discount travel by rail twice a year. There is no discount for long-distance travel by bus.

There also exist categories of people entitled to a discount due to their state of health They are:

1a. Military and auxiliary disabled of 1^st group - rail and bus travel free of charge. If they travel with a companion, he is also exempted from paying a fare.

1b. Military and auxiliary disabled of 2^nd and 3^rd group - 50% discount for rail and bus travels.

2. Non-military disabled of 1^st group: 1^st class rail - 50% discount. 2^nd class - free of charge. For bus travel - 50% discount.

3. Blind persons - 50% discount for travel by rail. If they belong to the group of persons mentioned in points 1 and 2, they are entitled to a discount mentioned in these points.

City transport is free for people above 75 years of age.

BELGIUM

Provisions relating to many of the facilities in Belgium also vary from one region to another.

Bus: In Wallonia, ‘TEC’ is the combined transport system. People over the age of 60 can obtain reductions on season tickets (annual or monthly). It is not necessary to be a Belgium national. In Brussels, ‘STIB’ is the combined transport system. Urban area older people over the age of 60, irrespective of nationality, can buy monthly or annual tickets at a reduced price. There are no concessions for older people in Flanders (1993).

Train: People over the age of 60 can buy a Golden Railpass. This entitles the holder to 6 single journeys inside Belgium, regardless of distance between the stations. The pass is valid for 1 year and on weekdays may only be used after 8am and at all other times on holidays and weekends. You can fill in the names of the people travelling with you as long as they are at least 55 years old or under 12. The price of the Golden Rail Pass for 1^st class is 1,940 BEF and for 2^nd class 1,260 BEF (1999).

Air: Cheaper fares for older people (50% of the normal price) are available on routes between Belgium and specific destinations in France and between Belgium and Geneva. Travellers must be 60 or over and must be away for at least one Sunday, with a maximum stay of 3 months (1993).

GREECE

In Greece, there is no generalised scheme for concessions to the elderly in the public means of transportation (buses, trains, airplanes) which are mostly owned or controlled by the state.

The only concessions for people over 60 years old are:

(a)For trains, if they issue a card, which costs 3.500 drachmas (roughly IEP 9.00), they are entitled to a 50% discount on all routes.

(b)For planes, Olympic Airways offers a 25% discount on its published fares but only on its international flights.

The fact that a 50% discount is offered to all invalided people, regardless of age, is of course another matter, as is the 50% discount for the elderly to all museums and cultural events.

PORTUGAL

Transport: There are various types of pass in Portugal which entitle older people to reductions of up to 50% of normal transport costs. “Passes Socials” entitle the holder to a reduction of 50% on fares in Lisbon and Oporto and their surrounding areas. To qualify, one must be over the age of 65 and be resident in Portugal. This pass must be renewed each month.

Bus: Rodoviaria Nacional (RN Tours) operate services and offer reductions of 25% for people over the age of 65years, irrespective of nationality or place of residence.

Train: Cartao Dourado (Golden Card) entitles the holder to a 50% reduction on train journeys inside Portugal with the national railway company. Applicants must be over 65 and resident in Portugal. They must renew their Golden Card each year. There is also a Portugal Tourist Ticket and this entitles the holder to unrestricted travel by train. Persons over 65 may purchase tickets at 50% the normal price.

Air: The national airline, TAP - Air Portugal, offers reduced fares to older people on flights between Portugal and Denmark, France and Italy. Persons over 60 are eligible for a reduced fare and there are no restrictions concerning nationality. TAP allows no reductions on its domestic flights (1993).

FREE / CONCESSIONARY TRAVEL - UNITED STATES

No federal or state mandated travel scheme offers concessions to the elderly. However, there is widespread offering of concessions by public and private transport providers. For example, the nation-wide Greyhound Bus service sells a Seniors Club card for $5.00 that entitles the carrier to 10% off any unrestricted passenger fare for one year. Without the card, the elderly are entitled to a 5% discount. In addition, the nation-wide Amtrak train service offers a 15% discount to the elderly. In each case, the discounts are available to those aged 62 or more.