Concession Information

New Regional Excursion Daily

The Ministry of Transport recently rolled out $2.50 all day travel bus services across the Northern Rivers Region for Pensioner Concession Card (PCC) holders.  Both the RED ticket and new half-fare tickets are available on all the major bus services across the Northern Rivers.  The new Regional Excursion Daily (RED) ticket will provide an additional fare product for older citizens and other pensioners. This $2.50 all day ticket will be sold by the driver when passengers present a valid Pensioner Concession card, a NSW Seniors card or a War Widower/s card. As the card gives entitlement to travel on more than one service within the network service area during the day on which it is purchased, and allows multiple trips to be taken on buses in the service network in the one day, drivers will need to permit people holding a RED ticket to board without further charge. This means an eligible person in Grafton could travel to Lismore then over to the coast and back again for $2.50.  However, as this is a daily ticket the journey must be completed by midnight.

Tertiary Students and Senior Secondary Students

The Ministry of Transport has also made changes to fare concessions for tertiary students and senior secondary students 19 years and older.  Full time tertiary students who attend day classes and who are not in paid employment or otherwise receiving an income (except for Commonwealth income support payments like Austudy or certain scholarships) are now entitled to a half fare concession for all travel purposes. Previously, students were only eligible for a half fare concession for travel to and from classes on private bus services. They also had to be under 30 years of age. One concession pass can now be used on all of these services. For information on changes in concession card arrangements for tertiary and senior secondary students 19 years of age and older go to http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/

To obtain the new cards, students will now need to obtain RailCorp application forms from their educational institution or by downloading the forms from the Ministry's website.  http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/  Completed forms will then need to be submitted to the school or college for processing and issuance.  

Apprentices and Trainees

Trainees, apprentices and eligible job seekers are now able to access half-fare travel.  Trainees and apprentices need to contact their relevant educational institution for the appropriate travel card.  

Eligible Job Seekers

Eligible jobseekers can obtain a ‘Half Fare Concession’ card from CentreLink. Please ensure you show your card to the bus driver. 

Other concession or transport schemes:

• Pensioner Concession Cards and NSW Half Fare Entitlement Cards are available from Centrelink or phone 131 021
• Isolated Patients Travel & Accommodation Scheme (IPTAAS) 6620 2168 A referral only service for people who need to travel more than 100 km to obtain inpatient or outpatient specialist medical treatment and/or specialist oral health surgical treatment not available locally. Claim forms available from medical practitioners or specialists.  Got to Department of Health or more information.
• School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS) Go to www.transport.nsw.gov.au or phone toll free 1800 227 774 or contact your local school, University or TAFE.
• Taxi Transport Subsidy Scheme (TTSS) for people with a disability Go to www.transport.nsw.gov.au or phone toll free 1800 623 724
• School Student Special Transport Scheme (SSSTS) School transport for eligible students with disabilities, behaviour disorders and learning difficulties. Go to www.det.nsw.gov.au  or call 131 071. You may also contact your local school. 
• The Department of Veterans’ Affairs have a range of transport schemes for Veterans.  Go to www.dva.gov.au or call 1300 551 918 for to connect to your nearest Veteran's Affairs Network office.