Unemployed to get discount rail travel

A NEW scheme offering cut-price rail travel to unemployed people has been annonced.

The plans will see those out of work for three months or more eligible for discounts of up to 50 per cent of ScotRail services in Scotland.

The scheme, which comes into place at the start of next month, will help jobless people with the costs of travelling to interviews or training.

Scottish Secretary Michael Moore backed the plan.

He said: “This is an excellent and generous ScotRail initiative which will give practical support to those looking for work.

“We need to do all we can to help people into employment and discounted rail travel will make it easier to attend interviews and seek out opportunities.”

A similar scheme already runs in England and Wales but unemployed people there have to wait six months before they can benefit from discounted travel.

Details of the initiative were announced as the National Convention on Youth Employment was getting under way in Dundee.

Mr Moore, who is taking part in the convention, watched on as ScotRail and Jobcentre Plus signed the agreement.

ScotRail managing director Steve Montgomery said: “We are happy to support this initiative because it reduces the financial burden on people who are looking for work.”

Jobcentre Plus staff will carry out the administration of the scheme, with the cards needed for discounted travel being issued to unemployed people at an adviser’s discretion to support their return to work or travel to job interviews and training.

Richard Cornish, Department for Work and Pensions work services director in Scotland, said: “I’m delighted we’ve reached this agreement between Jobcentre Plus in Scotland and ScotRail which will enable claimants in Scotland to widen their job search by reducing the cost of rail travel.”