Recent Changes in NSW Public Transport Concessions
NSW bus reforms and changes to concessions
As part of the NSW Government's Bus Reform program, new contracts for the delivery of bus services have been implemented in metropolitan Sydney and the outer-metropolitan areas - Newcastle, the Lower Hunter, the Central Coast, the Blue Mountains and the Illawarra. Under these new contracts, past differences in the concession entitlements available on government and private services have been removed.
This means eligible concession beneficiaries - including pensioners, NSW Seniors Card holders, senior secondary students, eligible tertiary students, apprentices and trainees, and vision impaired persons - can access an expanded range of concession benefits.
Infants
Children under 4 years of age are now eligible for free travel (when accompanied by a paying adult) on private bus services in metropolitan Sydney and outer metropolitan area - as well as free travel on all government bus, rail and ferry services.
Previously, children 2 years of age and under were entitled to free travel on privately operated bus services in these areas.
Young people
Young people under 16 years of age are now entitled to a half fare concession for travel on private bus services in metropolitan Sydney and outer metropolitan area - as well as a half fare on all government bus, rail and ferry services.
Previously, on privately operated bus services, young people had to pay a full or "adult" fare once they turned 15.
Senior secondary students
Senior secondary students are now entitled to a half fare concession on government rail and ferry services and all bus services - whether government or privately operated - in metropolitan Sydney and the outer metropolitan areas and for all travel purposes, not just to and from school.
One concession pass can now be used on all of these services.
For information on changes in concession card arrangements for senior secondary students, see the section on 'Changes to Student Concession Card arrangements' further down this page.
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, see the section on 'Changes to Student Concession Card arrangements' further down this page.
Apprentices and trainees
Apprentices and trainees are now eligible for a half fare concession for travel between home, work and their college, on all government and private bus service in metropolitan Sydney and the outer metropolitan areas and for all travel purposes.
Previously, apprentices and trainees were not eligible for a concession on privately operated bus services.
Vision impaired persons
People who are eligible for a Vision Impaired Persons pass are now entitled to travel free on all metropolitan Sydney and outer metropolitan bus services. Previously, free travel was only available on the government operated services.
NSW Seniors Card holders and Pensioner Concession Card holders
Pension Concession Card holders and NSW Seniors Card holders are now entitled to the $2.50 Pensioner Excursion Ticket on CityRail, government ferry and all government and privately operated regular bus services in metropolitan Sydney and the outer metropolitan areas.
On private ferry services, registered Pension Concession Card holders and NSW Seniors Card holders who access the broader public transport network through their local ferry service are also able to purchase a PET.
Previously, the PET was only available on government operated services.
Changes to student concession card arrangements - metropolitan Sydney and outer metropolitan areas
The NSW Government's reforms to the bus industry are simplifying concession card arrangements for senior secondary and tertiary students.
Within metropolitan Sydney and the outer metropolitan bus contract areas of Newcastle, the Illawarra, the Central Coast, the Lower Hunter and the Blue Mountains, the same eligibility criteria for student concessions now apply and students are eligible for the same concession benefits.
As a result, instead of having to carry separate cards for travel on government and privately operated bus services, students who are eligible for a half fare concession now carry the one concession card.
Senior secondary students 16 - 19 years
For senior secondary students aged between 16 and 19 years, this means that the NSW School Pupil Identification Card (Form 202) is now the standard concession card for government and private bus services within the metropolitan Sydney and outer metropolitan bus contract areas.
Eligible students travelling in these areas who would previously have been issued with a Student's Omnibus Concession Fare Certificate will now need to obtain the NSW School Pupil Identification Card.
To find out how to get a NSW School Pupil Identification Card or a Student's Omnibus Concession Fare Certificate, see the pages on travel concessions for Senior Secondary Students on this website.
To check which type of concession card is now required in a particular area or bus service, refer to the Quick Reference Geographic Guide for Buses. This shows the areas covered by the new arrangements as well as those that are not yet covered, in rural and regional areas.
Tertiary and senior secondary 19 years and older
For tertiary and senior secondary 19 years and older, this means that the NSW Student Identification Card is now the standard concession card for government and private bus services within the metropolitan Sydney and outer metropolitan bus contract areas.
Eligible students travelling in these areas who would previously have been issued with a Student's Omnibus Concession Fare Certificate will now need to obtain the NSW Student Identification Card.
To find out how to get a NSW School Pupil Identification Card or a Student's Omnibus Concession Fare Certificate, see the pages on travel concessions for Tertiary Students and Mature Aged Secondary Students on this website.
To check which type of concession card is now required in a particular area or bus service, refer to the Quick Reference Geographic Guide for Buses. This shows the areas covered by the new arrangements as well as those that are not yet covered, in rural and regional areas.
Student concessions in rural and regional areas
Arrangements for rural and regional areas are currently under development for implementation from 2008-09 onwards. In the meantime, students in rural and regional areas continue to require a Student's Omnibus Concession Fare Certificate - (Form 320) for use on private bus services (unless the operator recognises another card as proof of eligibility for a transport concession).
Private ferry services are not covered by the new contractual arrangements, and thus a Student's Omnibus Concession Fare Certificate - (Form 320) is the appropriate concession card for these services.
To check which type of concession card is now required in a particular area or ferry service, refer to the Quick Reference Geographic Guide for Ferries.
