Concessionary Travel In UK?

Question

In the UK OAP's and the Disabled recieve free bus travel.

How does the bus companies make up for their loss?

Does each journey go on a list and do the bus companies claim their money at the end of the financial year?

Or do they get their money back through claiming off the income tax?

Answers appreciated

Answer 1

This is a very complex area and I could write for six hours and still not cover every angle. You will excuse me, therefore, by trying to simplfy my response.

There are a number of Concessionary Travel Schemes covering the UK. Each scheme has its differences, but each has its own formula for reimbursing operators for part of the fare revenue lost by the operator. NO scheme gives the bus operator full recompense for the lost fares. The method of making claims differs from scheme to scheme, but most make payments to operators every three months.

In Scotland, special card readers are being installed in buses partly to speed up reimbursement claims and partly to make payments more accurate.