Issue - meetings

The Board considered the options, costs and recommendations relating to free rail travel for Senior English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) passholder’s resident in South Yorkshire.

Since the removal of free train travel for elderly ENCTS passholders in the region, there had been a continued campaign calling for its reinstatement. More recently, a scheme where passholders paid a set fee for an annual pass had been suggested as an arguably cost neutral alternative. The current arrangements allowed elderly ENCTS passholders a 50% discount on rail in addition to free bus and tram travel in the region.

Earlier in the year the MCA had undertaken market research with eligible residents to explore their appetite for an annual pass and the additional number of trips this would generate. The results of this work indicated that the scheme could cost the MCA around £2.87m per year based on a £10 price and £188k based on £20 and that the risk of cost escalation was uncapped.

In response to questions, the Director of Public Transport Operations advised that should such a scheme be implemented, Northern as the principal operator, would require the MCA to reimburse any fares that they would have received from concessionary journeys.

Members were supportive of such a scheme in principle but given the financial risks involved did not feel that they could commit to it at this stage. There was a great deal of uncertainty around funding for the next 6 months and considerable resources had already been dedicated to supporting the bus network. It was therefore decided to defer the item for 6 months, when it could be reviewed to determine whether a scheme was financially viable. In the meantime, work on a cost neutral pass would continue and various options, such as a capped version of the scheme would be explored.

RESOLVED that the Board:

1.   Defer the decision on ‘Assessment of "Gold Card" Scheme for Free Rail Travel for Elderly ENCTS Card Holders’ for 6 months.

2. Support the recommendation that SYMCA continue to engage with train operating companies (TOC’s) and the Department for Transport (DFT), as well as seeking support from Northern Mayors to lobby for TOCs to consider options for a cost-neutral Goldcard scheme.