Older and disabled people may be offered half price travel

Older and disabled people in Scotland may benefit from a 50 per
cent reduction in coach fares following the Scottish
executive’s decision to sign up for a consultation exercise
with coach operators.

The executive, is to examine the prospect of achieving the
reduced fares for older and disabled people in return for reducing
the fuel duty charged to coach operators.

Announcing the exercise, transport minister Sarah Boyack said:
“Coach travel plays an important role in Scotland’s transport
system – many older and disabled passengers rely on coaches
to travel long distances, and will warmly welcome the lower
fares.”

If the negotiations are successful, the reduced fares will be
introduced in the year 2002-03. A similar announcement was made by
the government in England.