Free transport

WishUWereHere

Apologies if this has been asked before & if it’s in the wrong location, Mods feel free to move as deemed right.

I recently got my OAP free transport card. But the accompanying literature doesn’t stipulate any restrictions- I’m thinking of times etc.

Anyone know if there are any restrictions?

TIA

RobertFoster

There are no time restrictions any more. You can see the guidelines on gov.ie:

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/ba6e26-operational-guidelines-free-travel-scheme/

Free Travel is not available:

• on services which are not listed in the official rail and bus timetables of Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann or Irish Rail
• on excursion and special bus or rail services
• on organised group journeys
• on Dublin Bus AIRLINK services
• on Dublin Bus special Airport services
• on First Class or Super Class travel on any service (unless the appropriate fare supplement is paid)

mikeybhoy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119813221#Comment_119813221

That's not really correct as FTP can be used on any PSO service and most private operators accept it now.

delboythedub

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119813221#Comment_119813221

used mine on air coach to dublin airport several times

coylemj

Telling people that all PSO services are free doesn't really help, you can't tell from a sign on the side of a bus if it's a PSO service or purely commercial and funded by passenger fares alone.

And just because an operator takes the free travel pass on one route does not mean that they accept the pass on all of their routes. As the first responder above pointed out, there are plenty of routes where the operator will not accept the FT pass.

There is a list of operators and routes at the website below, scroll to the bottom and click on the download link in the box 'Free Travel Operators'. There is no date in the document so you might want to give it a name which includes 'freetravel' and the date you downloaded it. Because the filename is a long string of garbage.

https://www.gov.ie/en/service/9bba61-free-travel-scheme/

xper

The citizen's information website may be a little easier to read/go back to:

https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/extra_social_welfare_benefits/free_travel.html#l36797

...although it too still refers to the now defunct Airlink service.

I never knew the scheme could be used for free air travel - albeit you have to be a resident on the Aran Islands or Tory Island.

coylemj

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119821312#Comment_119821312

If there is a specific Govt. dept with responsibility in that area, I would always go to their website or gov.ie first. Citizens Information comes a very poor second in my book.

The Citizens Information link you supplied above was last updated on August 4th while the link I posted points to a page on gov.ie which contains information supplied by the Dept of Social Protection and that page was last updated yesterday (Nov. 1st). Take your pick.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058269743/free-transport

There are no restrictions.

coylemj

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119818426#Comment_119818426

Not all Aircoach routes take the free travel pass....

Free Travel Passes are accepted on a space available basis for all routes except Cork, Belfast and Galway services.

https://www.aircoach.ie/terms-and-conditions