Veterans will get their own railcard from 11 November 2020, which will extend discounted train travel to the more than 830,000 veterans not covered by existing schemes.
Secretary of State Grant Shapps announced that the Government was honouring its manifesto commitment. “We expect our service personnel to live and work all over the country, moving wherever they are needed to serve our great country,” he said. “This often leads to service families, and former service families, living far away from friends and family and the communities they grew up in.
“Therefore, I believe it is important that our veterans have access to this railcard, supporting their access to vital work prospects and retraining opportunities, and making it easier for former members of the armed forces to stay in touch with friends and relatives.
“This railcard will also allow their family to travel with them, potentially saving military families hundreds of pounds a year.”
The new railcard forms part of a wider Government Strategy for Veterans that was published on 14 November 2019. Oliver Dowden, Paymaster general and Minister for the Cabinet Office, explained: “Our new action plan will help to make the UK the best place in the world for veterans. The Office for Veterans’ Affairs will drive the plan from the heart of government, working to help veterans on jobs, housing and health through better data and a more joined-up approach.”
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