Concessionary Travel
Strathclyde Concessionary Travel Scheme
What is the Strathclyde Scheme?
Elderly and disabled residents in the Strathclyde area get the best travel benefits in Scotland because of the wide area that the Strathclyde Concessionary Travel Scheme covers and the minimal travel time restrictions.
The Strathclyde Concessionary Travel Scheme offers reduced fares on First ScotRail services, which start and finish within the Scheme’s boundaries, and on Glasgow’s Subway. Free travel is also available on local ferries for anyone who lives on an island or peninsula and meets the qualifying criteria.
The bus part element of the Strathclyde Concessionary Travel Scheme has been replaced by the new, Scotland-Wide, Free, Bus Travel for older and disabled people run by Transport Scotland.
An Entitlement Card is needed to get free bus travel and reduced fares on trains and the Subway. A Strathclyde Concessionary Scheme Travel Card with a named ferry route on it is needed to get free ferry travel.
Concessionary travel is NOT available for tours, excursions, night services or other special services where a premium rate is charged. It is only available for the normal scheduled services provided by bus, train, Subway and ferry operators.
SPT administers the Strathclyde Concessionary Travel Scheme for:
- Argyll & Bute Council
- East Ayrshire Council
- East Dunbartonshire Council
- East Renfrewshire Council
- Glasgow City Council
- Inverclyde Council
- North Ayrshire Council
- North Lanarkshire Council
- Renfrewshire Council
- South Ayrshire Council
- South Lanarkshire Council
- West Dunbartonshire Council.
Concessions contained in the Strathclyde Scheme
Area covered by the Strathclyde Concessionary Travel Scheme
Open a map of the Strathclyde Concessionary Travel Scheme area for viewing on-screen (jpg format, 288kb).
View or download a pdf version of the map of the Strathclyde Concessionary Travel Scheme (969kb, opens a new window).
Remember, the Strathclyde Concessionary Travel Scheme’s boundaries only apply to concessionary train, Subway and ferry journeys. They don’t apply to concessionary bus journeys.
Who can use the Strathclyde Concessionary Travel Scheme?
The Scheme is open to people aged 60 years old and over and many disabled people if they live permanently in the area covered by the Scheme.
Strathclyde Concessionary Travel Cards, with a named ferry route on them (Ferry Travel Cards), are available to people aged 60 years old and over and many disabled people if they live permanently on one of the islands covered by the Scheme or they live on the Cowal or Rosneath Peninsulas.
Ferry Travel Cards allow free travel on named, local ferry routes.
How do I get my concessionary fare?
An Entitlement Card is needed to use the bus, train and Subway parts of the Scheme. A Strathclyde Concessionary Travel Card with a named ferry route on it is needed to use the ferries.
The Entitlement Cards for people who live in Strathclyde have an 'S' next to the Council logo to show that person can travel by rail and Subway within the Strathclyde scheme area.
Anyone who has an 'L' and an 'S' on their card can travel by train within the Strathclyde scheme area before 9am.
All cardholders will be able to travel by bus before 9am.
If you haven’t received your Entitlement Card, please go to www.infoscotland.com/seemore (opens in new browser window), or call 0845 601 6499 to find out more about how to get one.
SPT is not responsible for the content of external sites
Ferry Travel Cards
A Ferry Travel Card (Strathclyde Concessionary Travel Cards with a named ferry route on them) is needed to get free travel on local ferries. If you are 60 years old or over you can apply for a Ferry Travel Card at your local Post Office .If you have a disability you can apply for a card by contacting SPT’s Concessionary Travel Unit on 0141 333 3211.
Work is underway to introduce Electronic Ticketing Machines at ferry terminals. When these are in place you won’t need to use a Strathclyde Ferry Travel Card as your Entitlement Card will be accepted.
If your Strathclyde Concessionary Ferry Travel Card is due to expire you should apply for a new one.This can be done at your local Post Office if it is an elderly card. Disabled Ferry Cards must be renewed via the Travel Card Unit
What does the Strathclyde Concessionary Travel Scheme offer?
It allows people who are eligible to get a reduced fare on trains in the SPT area and on the Subway in Glasgow.
The Scheme also offers eligible people free travel on local ferries.
People who are blind and hold an appropriate Scottish Citizens’ National Entitlement Card can travel free at any time and on any type of public transport.
Rail journeys
All concessionary rail journeys have to start and end at a station inside the Scheme’s boundaries.
A 40p concessionary fare is charged for rail journeys of up to 10 miles.
A half-adult single or half-adult return fare is charged for journeys over 10 miles. Return fares and through ticketing are allowed.
People who are 60 years old and over aren’t allowed to travel before 9am on weekdays. There is no restriction at weekends or on national public holidays. There is no peak time restriction for people with disabilities.
Subway journeys
All concessionary journeys cost 40p.
People who are 60 years old and over aren’t allowed to travel before 9am on weekdays. There is no restriction at weekends or on national public holidays. There is no peak time restriction for people with disabilities.
Ferry journeys
People who have a Ferry Travel Card can travel free on the normal scheduled crossings which serve the route named on their Card.
Peak restrictions and hospital appointments
People who are 60 years old and over can claim concessionary fares on rail and Subway services if they have a hospital appointment which they can only get to by travelling before 9am. Written proof of the appointment needs to be produced when the ticket is bought.