Calls to scrap free bus passes for OAPs as cost hits £18m (From Daily Echo)

Theres been so much bandied about regarding this. A few years ago pensioners or bus pass holders were paying a token fee to travel (I think it was 20p). Why not reintroduce a similar fare? Makes sense to me. I'm sure bus pass holders wouldn't object. Theres loads of options.

Oh and ps. To the Bluestar bus driver that went 'flying' through a red light at Busledon road/Bath road on Friday at about 2-35pm........ you're an IDIOT!! Your also lucky I didn't get your number as I would have reported you for DANGEROUS driving! I hope your company sees this and finds you and seriously reprimands or fires you!

Free travel for pensioners can only be beneficial to the bus services. It means that the Council is paying for services that might otherwise not exist without the pensioner subsidy. Far from causing cuts in services it justifies the bus company operating a service which would otherwise be uneconomic. Whether the taxpayer can afford to subsidise these services is another matter.

Sadly, I feel it is time free bus passes come to an end. At a time when the Government has cut funding for public services across the board, we all have to share the burden.
If you look at the clientelle on buses,many are pensioners travelling free, supported by Council funding. Fare paying passengers are limited and this contibutes to the loss of services. If fares for all were lower, it would encourage more people to use buses and this may help with services. As it stands, many don't use them because they are too expensive,leaving the main use by OAP's on busu passes. Not really sustainable.

cliffwalker wrote:
Free travel for pensioners can only be beneficial to the bus services. It means that the Council is paying for services that might otherwise not exist without the pensioner subsidy. Far from causing cuts in services it justifies the bus company operating a service which would otherwise be uneconomic. Whether the taxpayer can afford to subsidise these services is another matter.

Absolutely right. I am a pass holder and I quite often get on a bus during the day when all the passengers are pensioners, some of them couples who probaably have a car at home. Without the pass they would drive, further clogging the already crowded roads and increasing pollution. Even before the pass was introduced, there was a concessionary scheme in many areas.

Get on with it and scrap it, our economy simply cannot afford these luxuries any longer. Current pensioners are enjoying a retirement income most of us in our 20's and 30's can only dream of, if indeed there will still be such a thing as retirement in 30 years time! There is no justifiable reason why the blue rinse brigade should not shoulder some financial cut backs just as the rest of society has done.

There is no doubt that thousands of these pensioners are car owners, but due to the rising costs of fuel, plus the additional rising costs of car insurance expected, VED (car tax ), MOT testing, vehicle maintenance etc, collectively this takes a sizeable chunk out of their pensions. So like everyone else they are tightening up on their expenditures, so only naturally they look at alternative ways of travelling. If those without cars have their bus services withdrawn they will be forced to use taxis for their essential journeys. Surprisingly after some calculations pensioners who travel infrequently would find it more economic to use taxis for say one or two local journeys per week, rather than meet the running costs of their cars. If all of them did pay a small token fare to keep the services running they would subsequently be overall in a better financial position themselves as well as the authorities.

Forest Resident wrote:
Get on with it and scrap it, our economy simply cannot afford these luxuries any longer. Current pensioners are enjoying a retirement income most of us in our 20's and 30's can only dream of, if indeed there will still be such a thing as retirement in 30 years time! There is no justifiable reason why the blue rinse brigade should not shoulder some financial cut backs just as the rest of society has done.

It would be a brave politician who in the run-up to the next election says they will scrap the bus pass. Pensioners are the single group of the electorate most likely to vote. Any sensible policitician knows that you do not spread mess on your pitch.
Politicians will be very careful in future not to do a Clegg-style U-turn (over tuition fees). Not only has it cost him his credibility but it may also lead to him losing his parliamentary seat.
No bus passes would mean a very much reduced service - or no service in some areas.

Ok scrap senior citizen concessionary passes but lets be fair about it, also scap All concessions, what is good for one is good for all.

As a pass holder i am happy with the idea of a token charge of 50p per journey but scrapping the passes altogether would leave many people housebound, there can be no justification in taking passes away from O.A.Ps who have mostly paid their dues all their lives while handing out money left right and centre to immigrants who have paid nothing into our system. This is not a local issue its one that needs to be sorted out at government level, yes we all understand that cutbacks have to be made but a total rethink on how and who gets benefits is needed, no benefits should be paid to anybody until they have made 5 years contributions and there after a sliding scale with full benefits payable after 10 years. Child allowance should be scrapped altogether for newborns after a set date so as the years go by less and less is paid out until it ceases altogether, instead of clobbering those that already exist we should be looking for future savings. The whole welfare system is rotten to the core when those that have worked and paid into the system get penalised while those that don't and haven't paid in get looked after. We have youngsters deciding they no longer want to live at home getting benefits because they have that option, take that option away so they have to live at home until they can afford to support themselves. You could write a book about the flaws in our welfare system.

Why is there the need to have three separate headlines for discussion on this subject? Methinks the Echo is trying to drum up enough anti-pensioner and anti-bus pass emotion so that certain Councillors can use it as "evidence" when the pass subsidy is officiallly discussed.
The only people making anything from the pass are the bus companies who receive the subsidy. If passes did not exist, the buses would be empty outside rush hours and therefore profitless, and so services would be cut even further, and fares go up for the rest.

Maine Lobster wrote:
Sadly, I feel it is time free bus passes come to an end. At a time when the Government has cut funding for public services across the board, we all have to share the burden.
If you look at the clientelle on buses,many are pensioners travelling free, supported by Council funding. Fare paying passengers are limited and this contibutes to the loss of services. If fares for all were lower, it would encourage more people to use buses and this may help with services. As it stands, many don't use them because they are too expensive,leaving the main use by OAP's on busu passes. Not really sustainable.

I am amazed at the bus fares charged by Bluestar et al.

I am disabled and have a bus pass which I use about once a month between Lymington and Southampton.

Often people get on at Lyndhurst and get charged nearly £7 to go to Southampton and back, £14 per couple. By car it would be no more than £5 in fuel.

I use the bus as it allows me to take my power chair to Southampton to get around the shops, but with no pass i would not use the bus.

If the bus companies charged more reasonable fares, the councils would pay less in concessions and therefore save money.

Let the OAPs keep their passes, they deserve them... Even if they were to pay for buses fares, the company wouldn't reduce fares or bring back routes, as long as they make money that's all their care about regardless where the money comes from... Also bring back trams and a frequent metro service - buses are dangerous, slow, old fashioned and uncomfy

ok scrap (DAILY ECHO O/K BY ME HASSAN IN TURKIYE

At least the vulnerable public transport should be subsidised in some way, if not all. The pensioners free pass is one way of doing this. I am interested to learn what the socialists say about the matter.

bazzeroz wrote:
Oh and ps. To the Bluestar bus driver that went 'flying' through a red light at Busledon road/Bath road on Friday at about 2-35pm........ you're an IDIOT!! Your also lucky I didn't get your number as I would have reported you for DANGEROUS driving! I hope your company sees this and finds you and seriously reprimands or fires you!

How many more times are you going to post this rubbish. We all know it didn't happen otherwise you would have reported it.

Don't scrap them for OAPs, but do scrap them for the innumerable able-bodied under 60s who somehow have one.

Don't believe the problem is entirely with the O.A.P Passes, Council's Hand out concessionary passes to people with Minor Disabilities & those on Low Income etc etc, The whole system needs looking into. I have seen Foreign Speaking Pensioners with passes from ''ACROSS'' the world, are they entitled to a bus pass as they have not lived in the UK All there lives, Do ALL ''Disabled'' (are they Disabled as seen people with the yellow stripe passes run for the bus ) need a Bus pass, May be the way forward is means testing and on a points basis. In some CASES its seems a very un fare system.

I would scrap buses full stop. They are always 90% empty apart from a few routes at rush hours....

Zeo wrote:
Let the OAPs keep their passes, they deserve them... Even if they were to pay for buses fares, the company wouldn't reduce fares or bring back routes, as long as they make money that's all their care about regardless where the money comes from... Also bring back trams and a frequent metro service - buses are dangerous, slow, old fashioned and uncomfy

why do they?

Forest Resident wrote:
Get on with it and scrap it, our economy simply cannot afford these luxuries any longer. Current pensioners are enjoying a retirement income most of us in our 20's and 30's can only dream of, if indeed there will still be such a thing as retirement in 30 years time! There is no justifiable reason why the blue rinse brigade should not shoulder some financial cut backs just as the rest of society has done.

in other words my life's a bit rubbish, so, so should everyone else's be.

chunky_lover wrote:

Zeo wrote:
Let the OAPs keep their passes, they deserve them... Even if they were to pay for buses fares, the company wouldn't reduce fares or bring back routes, as long as they make money that's all their care about regardless where the money comes from... Also bring back trams and a frequent metro service - buses are dangerous, slow, old fashioned and uncomfy

why do they?

err my post clearly states... they (the OAPs) either pay for the buses at a discounted rate (with money from the tax payer to cover the bus companies loss) OR they continue with the bus passes and still get money from the tax payer, either way the companies will still be getting tax payers money so as I said, the bus companies don't care nor care when the money comes from as long as they get their money.

COUNCILS are set to pay £18m to cover the cost of pensioners travelling free next year – much to the disgust of some Daily Echo readers.

Hey Ho I bet most pensioners, like myself run a car and have never even applied for the bus pass. Many others don't go out much. This will have the greatest impact on those who cannot afford to run a car (th poor) or have had their licence withdrawn for health reasons.

£18m, really! The bus companies are the ones that will suffer the most though. This phenomenal sum could put then out of business. No company can afford those kind of losses. Do I see another U turn coming.

Mind you I am not very convinced this is how much it costs. Seems a lot to me. Are the accounts for this year published on the web for you and me to examine?

They have just replaces all the street lights round my way. The entire thing, the pole as well. The new lights blind you through the bright glare. The old ones were far superior and I have to wonder in these times of austerity why this was necessary.

More wasted tax payers money below.

HUNDREDS of buses in south Hampshire are being fitted with free wireless Internet this month under a £7.4m scheme to boost the local economy and cut emissions.

http://www.dailyecho
.co.uk/news/travel/9
865709.__7_4m_scheme
_to_fit_free_Wi_Fi_o
n_buses/

So much for market forces and companies having to be profitable or they go to the wall. The private sector who claims more in benefits that welfare recipients. The multinationals who pay less in taxes than pensioners.

Personally from what I have seen over the past 30yrs + Market Forces are a spectacular failure for the country, but one hell of a safety net for the private sector and a good little earner. Where would the banks be without their bail out, welfare cheques?

I am 60 December whats the next stop doing away with the State Pension then!

Cost of free bus travel for pensioners hits £18m.
so would a 50p charge come out of the cost to councils?
The bus pass only covers a third of the price of a ticket & even then the government doesn't cover all of it.
Labour bought it in & the agreement was the Government would cover the ticket/fare & compensate the councils for issuing them,
Soon after this started the Government(Labour) cut the money to fund this & to keep it going councils have tried to make up the difference.
only if the 50p was taken from that money would it help save the pass.
but I know an ex work colleague of mine who now drives for Bluestar who told me the bus companies increased the fares to cover the bus passes & so doing lost a lot of fare paying customers.
I use to pay for my wife & I £4-00 for a day rider it then went up to £6-00 that meant it was cheaper to drive my car to town than get a bus how's that right?

SCRAP the smart city bus passes most dont need them anyway ,Drug and junkie addicts get free bus travel scrap there travel and scrap free travel for the ones who do not abide the law who are on probation as there another bunch who get travel paid for ,

Northamboy wrote:

bazzeroz wrote:
Oh and ps. To the Bluestar bus driver that went 'flying' through a red light at Busledon road/Bath road on Friday at about 2-35pm........ you're an IDIOT!! Your also lucky I didn't get your number as I would have reported you for DANGEROUS driving! I hope your company sees this and finds you and seriously reprimands or fires you!

How many more times are you going to post this rubbish. We all know it didn't happen otherwise you would have reported it.

Oh and ps. To the Bluestar bus driver that went 'flying' through a red light at Busledon road/Bath road on Friday at about 2-35pm........ you're an IDIOT!! Your also lucky I didn't get your number as I would have reported you for DANGEROUS driving! I hope your company sees this and finds you and seriously reprimands or fires you!

And, YES it did 8osser!

Wheeled1 wrote:

Maine Lobster wrote:
Sadly, I feel it is time free bus passes come to an end. At a time when the Government has cut funding for public services across the board, we all have to share the burden.
If you look at the clientelle on buses,many are pensioners travelling free, supported by Council funding. Fare paying passengers are limited and this contibutes to the loss of services. If fares for all were lower, it would encourage more people to use buses and this may help with services. As it stands, many don't use them because they are too expensive,leaving the main use by OAP's on busu passes. Not really sustainable.

I am amazed at the bus fares charged by Bluestar et al.

I am disabled and have a bus pass which I use about once a month between Lymington and Southampton.

Often people get on at Lyndhurst and get charged nearly £7 to go to Southampton and back, £14 per couple. By car it would be no more than £5 in fuel.

I use the bus as it allows me to take my power chair to Southampton to get around the shops, but with no pass i would not use the bus.

If the bus companies charged more reasonable fares, the councils would pay less in concessions and therefore save money.

In your costings, you forgot about the exorbitant parking charges in Southampton for a fairly short stay ..... not to mention the purchase and running costs of the car!!

However I have sympathy for for those of us who qualify for a bus pass who are better off financially and would be happy to give mine up if it means jobs for younger people. Many better off older people I know don't use the bus at all!

My worry would be, as mentioned by others, that if the bus services aren't subsidised by local authorities through the bus pass scheme, then fares will rise and there will be far fewer buses.

4-front wrote:

Wheeled1 wrote:

Maine Lobster wrote:
Sadly, I feel it is time free bus passes come to an end. At a time when the Government has cut funding for public services across the board, we all have to share the burden.
If you look at the clientelle on buses,many are pensioners travelling free, supported by Council funding. Fare paying passengers are limited and this contibutes to the loss of services. If fares for all were lower, it would encourage more people to use buses and this may help with services. As it stands, many don't use them because they are too expensive,leaving the main use by OAP's on busu passes. Not really sustainable.

I am amazed at the bus fares charged by Bluestar et al.

I am disabled and have a bus pass which I use about once a month between Lymington and Southampton.

Often people get on at Lyndhurst and get charged nearly £7 to go to Southampton and back, £14 per couple. By car it would be no more than £5 in fuel.

I use the bus as it allows me to take my power chair to Southampton to get around the shops, but with no pass i would not use the bus.

If the bus companies charged more reasonable fares, the councils would pay less in concessions and therefore save money.

In your costings, you forgot about the exorbitant parking charges in Southampton for a fairly short stay ..... not to mention the purchase and running costs of the car!!

However I have sympathy for for those of us who qualify for a bus pass who are better off financially and would be happy to give mine up if it means jobs for younger people. Many better off older people I know don't use the bus at all!

My worry would be, as mentioned by others, that if the bus services aren't subsidised by local authorities through the bus pass scheme, then fares will rise and there will be far fewer buses.

...... oops - sorry!! My sympathies were intended for those worse off financially (not the better off) and particularly those who can't use a car and have to use public transport.

There is a problem with this proposal - the bus pass is a national scheme. Hampshire councils would have to convince the whole country that the bus pass scheme shoul end.
That aside, I'm sure that there are a lot more expensive programmes that could be ended to save the taxpayers pennies. Has anyone seen how much the council spends through it's education department....?

focus19 wrote:
Don't believe the problem is entirely with the O.A.P Passes, Council's Hand out concessionary passes to people with Minor Disabilities & those on Low Income etc etc, The whole system needs looking into. I have seen Foreign Speaking Pensioners with passes from ''ACROSS'' the world, are they entitled to a bus pass as they have not lived in the UK All there lives, Do ALL ''Disabled'' (are they Disabled as seen people with the yellow stripe passes run for the bus ) need a Bus pass, May be the way forward is means testing and on a points basis. In some CASES its seems a very un fare system.

Concessionary passes are NOT given to people just because they have low incomes.
"Disabled" passes are awarded where the holder would be refused a driving licence on medical grounds. Not sure how you can judge the extent of a person's disability just by looking at them!

I will very soon be eligible for a free bus. I doubt I will actually get one as I have little doubt they will be withdrawn before I qualify having seen the qualifying age increase. That being said I do not understand the argument that I have paid for it so I should get it now, any more than I have paid for a free TV licence or even winter fuel allowance. I do believe however these concessions are tacit acceptance that the pensions are too low, and rather than offering subsidies, perhaps pensions should be increased to a more decent level. However whilst arguing that, I could equally well argue that pay for workers is also too low so the taxpayer subsidises housing costs, child care, in fact a plethora of living costs. Perhaps, again, it would be better if employers paid a decent living wage but at the same time low paid workers should not expect to "have it all!".
What I am convinced of is that no one should qualify for subsidy purely on the basis of age, and equally no one should qualify for something because they have failed to take responsibility for their family by having children which, without taxpayer funded subsidy, they could not afford.
Finally whilst we are all exhorted to "pay our fair share", it cannot be right that huge multinationals like Google, Starbucks, and even Margaret Hodges family's company Stemcore (0.25%) can get away with paying little or no Corporation Tax, which tax could be used to fund these benefits rather than seeing their undoubted profits "shipped abroad".

I lost my career due to my disability, although this may not be be obvious to the general public as I can walk. Having ended up on a fairly low income, I still pay my council tax in full.
I am unable to drive, and am grateful for my bus pass, which I normally use 3 - 4 times a week for one return journey, to receive treatment arranged by my doctor.
Having said this, I believe that everybody, including me, should pay something towards their bus travel at a time when, on average, pensioners are better off than many younger working people having to contend with high rents, pay freezes etc.
As with prescription charges, the system that allows so many people not to pay anything results in the rest paying through the nose.
What is wrong in asking the disabled and OAPs to pay something, say 50p per journey, or asking them to pay £100 - £200 per annum for an unlimited national bus pass?

This country is turning into a country that is failing its elderly. We will soon be a third world country the way things are going.

Vonnie wrote:
Why is there the need to have three separate headlines for discussion on this subject? Methinks the Echo is trying to drum up enough anti-pensioner and anti-bus pass emotion so that certain Councillors can use it as "evidence" when the pass subsidy is officiallly discussed.
The only people making anything from the pass are the bus companies who receive the subsidy. If passes did not exist, the buses would be empty outside rush hours and therefore profitless, and so services would be cut even further, and fares go up for the rest.

Shut up with the Echo bashing you idiot

I am not an idiot. I am asking a perfectly logical question. Neither am I Echo bashing in particular. Just using my logic which seems to be more than you have.

Just my luck I retire and look forward to a bit of freedom of mobilty on my meagre pension and you want to deny me the right to enjoy what I have worked and payed for for nearly 49 years. I don't drive, never needed a car and never wanted one. The bus service is poor enough anyway since recent changes. We know that Tories think that Pensioners are a burden on Society, Osborne said so, euphanasia may be the next policy on their future manifesto?

dogbruce wrote:
SCRAP the smart city bus passes most dont need them anyway ,Drug and junkie addicts get free bus travel scrap there travel and scrap free travel for the ones who do not abide the law who are on probation as there another bunch who get travel paid for ,

How old are you? How well off are you? Do you live in a comfortable location, do you have your own transport. If you are well off in any of these areas try being a bit more thoughtful about those that aren't

MGRA wrote:
I would scrap buses full stop. They are always 90% empty apart from a few routes at rush hours....

Must be a Tory.

I have a far bigger issue with students getting concessions!

OSPREYSAINT wrote:

MGRA wrote:
I would scrap buses full stop. They are always 90% empty apart from a few routes at rush hours....

Must be a Tory.

Osprey why didn't Labour honour the agreement & cover the whole fare?
Why pay less than a third to local councils who then have to make it up to a third of the price of the real fare?
Check before you answer as it was Labours doing this mess

That's right, hit the pensioners again.

Target pensioners to ensure Council workers and Unions get their own way.

No point in me complaining, Labour have control and will ruin this City. It will take years for us to get out of the mess they are creating.

wizard wrote:
I have a far bigger issue with students getting concessions!

What do you mean? I never got any when I was a student.

bazzeroz wrote:
Oh and ps. To the Bluestar bus driver that went 'flying' through a red light at Busledon road/Bath road on Friday at about 2-35pm........ you're an IDIOT!! Your also lucky I didn't get your number as I would have reported you for DANGEROUS driving! I hope your company sees this and finds you and seriously reprimands or fires you!

I often see buses RLJ outside the bargate, sure they don't go all the way through but stopping in the advanced stop zone on a red is classed as an RLJ because to stop there means having to cross the stop line meant for motor vehicles while the lights against them are red, I've even seen them plow through a red at the crossing outside the bargate entrance of west quay.

Ginger_cyclist wrote:

bazzeroz wrote:
Oh and ps. To the Bluestar bus driver that went 'flying' through a red light at Busledon road/Bath road on Friday at about 2-35pm........ you're an IDIOT!! Your also lucky I didn't get your number as I would have reported you for DANGEROUS driving! I hope your company sees this and finds you and seriously reprimands or fires you!

I often see buses RLJ outside the bargate, sure they don't go all the way through but stopping in the advanced stop zone on a red is classed as an RLJ because to stop there means having to cross the stop line meant for motor vehicles while the lights against them are red, I've even seen them plow through a red at the crossing outside the bargate entrance of west quay.

Can you please shove your Cycle Camera up your back side, you are doing my head in!

IronLady2010 wrote:

Ginger_cyclist wrote:

bazzeroz wrote:
Oh and ps. To the Bluestar bus driver that went 'flying' through a red light at Busledon road/Bath road on Friday at about 2-35pm........ you're an IDIOT!! Your also lucky I didn't get your number as I would have reported you for DANGEROUS driving! I hope your company sees this and finds you and seriously reprimands or fires you!

I often see buses RLJ outside the bargate, sure they don't go all the way through but stopping in the advanced stop zone on a red is classed as an RLJ because to stop there means having to cross the stop line meant for motor vehicles while the lights against them are red, I've even seen them plow through a red at the crossing outside the bargate entrance of west quay.

Can you please shove your Cycle Camera up your back side, you are doing my head in!

No one forced you to read my comment, it wasn't even for you directly, it was for whoever wanted to read it, don't have to read it if you don't want to no, it will stay happily perched on my helmet... I might just post a list of all the number plates I have on youtube one day, hopefully the owners see the list and go look at the video of how stupid/dangerous/mor
onic their driving was.

Historians believe the wooden boxes contain the bones of Anglo-Saxon kings, including ancestors of King Alfred and the Danes such as Canute,,,,, this project will cost $19 million to fund looking at bones in boxes at winchester cathedral ,,,,,,,,,,,, or ,,,,,,,,, £18 million on free bus passes for the elderly ? .,............ i wonder what they will choose ,,,,, spending it on the living or the dead ,,,,,,

wake up wrote:
Historians believe the wooden boxes contain the bones of Anglo-Saxon kings, including ancestors of King Alfred and the Danes such as Canute,,,,, this project will cost $19 million to fund looking at bones in boxes at winchester cathedral ,,,,,,,,,,,, or ,,,,,,,,, £18 million on free bus passes for the elderly ? .,............ i wonder what they will choose ,,,,, spending it on the living or the dead ,,,,,,

I'd rather save £1million and invest in the living.

loosehead wrote:

OSPREYSAINT wrote:

MGRA wrote:
I would scrap buses full stop. They are always 90% empty apart from a few routes at rush hours....

Must be a Tory.

Osprey why didn't Labour honour the agreement & cover the whole fare?
Why pay less than a third to local councils who then have to make it up to a third of the price of the real fare?
Check before you answer as it was Labours doing this mess

I don't know why, I don't trust any political party these days, all I know is that I can't see why I have to suffer from greed and ageism.

I agree free bus passes should be scrapped. As fuel goes up many more pensioners are taking buses which means unfortunately for me I have to pay more and I am fully aware that times are hard for them as they are me but however, I think they should pay at least half of what the fair is then its fair for everyone.

bubbles 88 wrote:
I agree free bus passes should be scrapped. As fuel goes up many more pensioners are taking buses which means unfortunately for me I have to pay more and I am fully aware that times are hard for them as they are me but however, I think they should pay at least half of what the fair is then its fair for everyone.

And I know your going to pick me up on my grammar and my spelling mistake.

Ginger_cyclist wrote:

wizard wrote:
I have a far bigger issue with students getting concessions!

What do you mean? I never got any when I was a student.

Don't students get cheaper fares on the train?
I know that London Oyster card students get a more for their money?

loosehead wrote:

Ginger_cyclist wrote:

wizard wrote:
I have a far bigger issue with students getting concessions!

What do you mean? I never got any when I was a student.

Don't students get cheaper fares on the train?
I know that London Oyster card students get a more for their money?

Yes students can apply for a 33% Off Rail pass (16-25) it costs £28 per year and you normally get the money back after about 2 trips to London.

But so can adults who live in the Network Southeast area (London, South-East and South) & OAP's rail passes, again all £28 but you get discount rail at off peak which makes train travel cheaper.

Hence why I suggest removing all buses and bring in a metro and tram style system in Southampton, be quicker, smarter, cleaner and I would even give my car up to use this new transport.

Zeo wrote:

loosehead wrote:

Ginger_cyclist wrote:

wizard wrote:
I have a far bigger issue with students getting concessions!

What do you mean? I never got any when I was a student.

Don't students get cheaper fares on the train?
I know that London Oyster card students get a more for their money?

Yes students can apply for a 33% Off Rail pass (16-25) it costs £28 per year and you normally get the money back after about 2 trips to London.

But so can adults who live in the Network Southeast area (London, South-East and South) & OAP's rail passes, again all £28 but you get discount rail at off peak which makes train travel cheaper.

Hence why I suggest removing all buses and bring in a metro and tram style system in Southampton, be quicker, smarter, cleaner and I would even give my car up to use this new transport.

Yes, bring back the Southampton trams, not that I'm old enough to remember them but I have seen old photos.

Ginger_cyclist wrote:

Zeo wrote:

loosehead wrote:

Ginger_cyclist wrote:

wizard wrote: I have a far bigger issue with students getting concessions!

What do you mean? I never got any when I was a student.

Don't students get cheaper fares on the train? I know that London Oyster card students get a more for their money?

Yes students can apply for a 33% Off Rail pass (16-25) it costs £28 per year and you normally get the money back after about 2 trips to London. But so can adults who live in the Network Southeast area (London, South-East and South) & OAP's rail passes, again all £28 but you get discount rail at off peak which makes train travel cheaper. Hence why I suggest removing all buses and bring in a metro and tram style system in Southampton, be quicker, smarter, cleaner and I would even give my car up to use this new transport.

Yes, bring back the Southampton trams, not that I'm old enough to remember them but I have seen old photos.

And where exactly would you find the £100 million or so needed to build a tram system?

bubbles 88 wrote:

bubbles 88 wrote: I agree free bus passes should be scrapped. As fuel goes up many more pensioners are taking buses which means unfortunately for me I have to pay more and I am fully aware that times are hard for them as they are me but however, I think they should pay at least half of what the fair is then its fair for everyone.

And I know your going to pick me up on my grammar and my spelling mistake.

How does that work then? A bus costs the same wheher there is one passenger on it, or 91. In fact, filling what would otherwise be empty seats potentially means that fares for full paying passengers are reduced.

Zeo wrote:

loosehead wrote:

Ginger_cyclist wrote:

wizard wrote:
I have a far bigger issue with students getting concessions!

What do you mean? I never got any when I was a student.

Don't students get cheaper fares on the train?
I know that London Oyster card students get a more for their money?

Yes students can apply for a 33% Off Rail pass (16-25) it costs £28 per year and you normally get the money back after about 2 trips to London.

But so can adults who live in the Network Southeast area (London, South-East and South) & OAP's rail passes, again all £28 but you get discount rail at off peak which makes train travel cheaper.

Hence why I suggest removing all buses and bring in a metro and tram style system in Southampton, be quicker, smarter, cleaner and I would even give my car up to use this new transport.

I agreed with the monorail put forward by Whitehead when he was a councillor pity it never happened maybe we should try & do it again?

The heating allowance is next on the Tory cut agenda, solves a problem, the Pensioners freeze to death and are no longer a burden on society. The fact is that a lot of people don't claim it because they are too proud.