Travel and Concession Cards

Can I get free travel?

For young children

Children under the age of 4 can travel for free.

For students

The School Students Transport Scheme (SSTS) provides free travel for eligible NSW primary and secondary school students between school and home on schooldays.

To qualify for free travel under the School Students Transport Scheme (SSTS) you must be a resident of NSW who is 4 years and 6 months of age or older and enrolled as one of the following:

·  an infant student (K-2);

·  a primary student (year 3-6) who lives more than 1.6 kms (radial distance) from school, or 2.3 kms or more by the most direct practical walking route to the nearest entry point to the school;

·  a secondary student (year 7-12) who lives more than 2 kms (radial distance) from school, or 2.9 kms or more by the most direct practical walking route to the nearest entry point to the school; or

·  a TAFE student under 18 years of age as of the 1st January of the year of application who is:

o  enrolled in a full-time TAFE course for a minimum of 20 hours a week;

o  not employed;

o  living more than 3.2 kms from the college by the most direct practical walking route; and

o  Attending the college closest to their home where enrolment is available.

How to apply for a Concession Card

1.  Application forms are available from your school or TAFE College. Forms must be completed and signed by a parent or guardian if the student is under 16 years of age.

2.  A separate application must be lodged for each part of the trip undertaken with a different transport operator. For instance, a journey using the services of two bus operators and City Rail requires three applications. If a trip is undertaken on two separate services of the same transport operator (for example two Sydney buses), only one application is necessary.

3.  The completed application form(s) should be returned to your school or TAFE, which will verify that the student is enrolled. Schools also do an initial check on the student's eligibility on radial distance grounds.

4.  The school will forward the application form(s) to the transport operator, who will assess whether the student meets the distance eligibility criteria.

5.  If eligible, the operator will issue the student with a pass, which indicates that it is solely for travel under the Scheme. In some cases (such as in rural areas) passes are not issued, as the operator knows the students.

A new application must be completed when a student:

·  Enrolls in kindergarten

·  progresses from Year 2 to Year 3,

·  progresses from Year 6 to Year 7,

·  changes name, school and/or address, or

·  applies for an additional travel pass when living with separated parents.

For further information click here

What tickets do I need to get for school and non-school travel?

On school days:

Both free passes and travel/concession cards can be used in most government and privately operated rail, bus and ferry networks both in Metropolitan Sydney or Regional New South Wales. For further information click here .

Cards are issued at the beginning of each year and can be used until March 31st of the next year.

All other times:

Only concession cards and fares may be used on weekends and for non-school related travel.

When can I get a concession card?

·  If you are a 16, 17 or 18 year old full-time student attending a NSW school you are automatically eligible for a NSW School Pupil Identification Card (see below). This allows you to purchase concession tickets for transport with City Rail, Sydney Buses and Sydney Ferries.

These cards are issued to you by your school or can be applied for through RailCorp's Passes and Concessions office.  The usual discount is half-fare.

·  Tertiary students can use their student cards with a City Rail logo as their concession card (see below).

·  If you are under 16, you are classified as a child and can purchase child tickets instead.

·  Full-fee paying international students are not eligible to apply.

Applications for NSW concession cards can be accessed here.

What will happen if I travel without my travel/concession card?

If you travel on concession ticket, you must carry your concession card. If you don’t and are caught by a transit officer, you may be given an on-the-spot fine of $200.

Transit Officers also have the right to confiscate concession cards that are blank, incomplete, being misused or breaching any of the card's conditions. Proof of identity may also be required.

Transit Officers also have the authority to:

·  ask passengers for their name and address,

·  ask passengers for their concession card,

·  detain a passenger for the length of time it takes to obtain the relevant information,

·  detain a passenger who refuses to give their name and address, and

·  issue a passenger with a penalty notice.

To make a complaint about a transit officer you should get their name and badge number and contact City Rail on 131500. You can also contact an ombudsman, a youth worker or a youth lawyer.

If you do get a fine, you can:

·  Pay it:  If you don’t pay on time (usually 21 days) you will get an enforcement order from the State Debt Recovery Office (SDRO).  They will also add on an extra $50 ‘enforcement charge’.  You can ask to pay in instalments.

·  Defend it:  You will need to fill out the court election form on the back of the infringement notice before 21 days expires.  If you elect to go to court you will be sent a court attendance notice which will tell you which court to go to and when.  If you go to court and are found guilty, the magistrate may increase your fine. 

This page last updated November 2009

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