Veterans to be added to rail travel discounts already offered to serving members of the Armed Forces and their spouses, which offers up to 30 per cent off rail travel across the UK
The Government has announced that UK Military Veterans will be eligible to apply for discounted rail travel from Armistice Day, (11th November), this year.
The card will give a third off most train travel to more than 830,000 veterans not covered by existing discounts.
It will cost £21 for an introductory period, before the price is increased to £30.
Full details on the card are yet to be released, but it will broadly work in the same way as other railcards, so restrictions to its use will apply.
It will benefit more than 830,000 veterans who do not already qualify for existing discounts, the Department for Transport said. A HM Forces Railcard can already be bought by serving personnel for £21 a year
It was one of the Conservatives' pledges during the general election campaign and forms part of the government's veterans strategy.
Details are still sketchy as to exactly what is being offered, where the discounted card will be accepted, but information should become more available as the year progresses and we will add more information as it becomes available.
What does the Government say?
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: "Every part of society should honour the debt we owe those who’ve served our country. I’m proud that the Department for Transport, together with other government colleagues and the rail industry, is doing its bit.
"This railcard will help open up opportunities to veterans, whether through employment and retraining, or by strengthening links with friends and family. I believe that enabling former service personnel to travel more easily is the least we can do."