Press Releases - News - Translink
Calling all 60 Seniors – Completely Free Public Transport Just an Application Form Away!
4th August 2008:
Having turned 60 this year, celebrities ‘The Prince of Wales’, ‘Arnold Schwarzenegger’ and ‘Alice Cooper’ are rushing to get their Translink 60 SmartPass applications in before the 29th August deadline, hoping to take advantage of free unlimited travel in NI from 1st October.
Get your SmartPass application in now to beat 29th August deadline, says Translink.
With just over three weeks to go before the deadline for return of 60 SmartPass applications, Translink is urging the some 80% of eligible citizens who have not yet applied for their free travel benefit to act ‘quick Smart!’
From 1st October, a potential 90,000 60-64 year olds will be entitled to completely free public transport in NI for the first time. However, to be ready for this start date, application forms for the special Translink SmartPass must be received by 29th August. Translink says that with just under 18,000 forms returned to date and now being processed, the remaining 72,000 eligible consumers should make getting their application in a real priority.
“Free travel is an amazing benefit and one which NI’s 65 population has been capitalising on since 2002. 60-64 year-olds now also have the opportunity for unlimited free travel in NI, a landmark development that will no doubt make a major difference to their lives, particularly their finances,” said Lynda Shannon, Translink’s communications manager.
“As expected, the response has been intense with over 30,000 application forms requested in less than a month. Around 18,000 of these have been returned to us and are currently being processed. However, that leaves nearly 80% of potentially eligible consumers still to apply and we would advise them to make full use of the dedicated application facilities in place to help them return their forms by the 29th August.
“Even if you currently don’t use public transport a lot, our message is that it makes sense to apply for your SmartPass so that, from 1st October, you are ready and able to take advantage of free travel – and start to enjoy its many benefits including comfort, frequency, reliability and extra perks like no parking hassle or costs and reduced stress from sitting in congestion,” she concluded.
To obtain an application form for a 60 SmartPass call the hotline on 0845 600 0049 or log on to www.60smartpass.info. Completed application forms should be brought for processing, together with documentation proving identity and residency, to the dedicated SmartPass application centres, which are located as follows:
|
If you live in |
Apply at |
|
If you live in |
Apply at |
|
BT1, BT2, BT3, BT4, BT5, BT6, BT7, BT8, BT9, BT10, BT11, BT12, BT13, BT14, BT15, BT16, BT17, BT29, BT58 |
Grosvenor Hall, |
|
BT42, BT43, BT44 |
Ballymena Bus Station |
|
BT18, BT19, BT20 |
|
|
BT45, BT46 |
Magherafelt Buscentre |
|
BT21, BT22, BT23 |
Newtownards Bus Station |
|
BT47, BT48 |
Millennium Forum, |
|
BT25, BT26, BT27, BT28 |
Lisburn Buscentre |
|
BT49 |
Limavady Bus Station |
|
BT24, BT30, BT31 |
Downpatrick Buscentre |
|
BT51, BT52, BT53, BT54, BT55, BT56, BT57 |
Coleraine Bus and Rail Centre |
|
BT32 |
Banbridge Bus Office |
|
BT60, BT61 |
|
|
BT33 |
|
|
BT62, BT63, BT64, BT65, BT66, BT67 |
Portadown or Lurgan Rail Station or Craigavon Bus Station |
|
BT34, BT35 |
Newry Buscentre |
|
BT68, BT69, BT70, BT71, BT75, BT76, BT77 |
Dungannon Bus Station |
|
BT36, BT37, BT39 |
Grosvenor Hall, |
|
BT74, BT92, BT93, BT94 |
Enniskillen Buscentre |
|
BT38 |
Carrickfergus Rail Station |
|
BT78, BT79 |
Omagh Buscentre |
|
BT40 |
Larne Bus Station |
|
BT80 |
Cookstown Bus Station |
|
BT41 |
Antrim Rail Station |
|
BT81, BT82 |
Strabane Buscentre |
Notes to Editors
- Application forms can be obtained by calling the special 60 Smartpass hotline 0845 600 0049
- Information and application forms are also available by logging on to www.60smartpass.info
- Applications must be returned by 29th August in order to ensure receipt of the 60 Smartpass by 1st October, when the new concession starts.
Application Centres – Where to Take Your 60 SmartPass Application Form
- To support the application process, Translink is setting up 26 dedicated application centres, mainly at bus and rail stations around the province but also at Grosvenor House in Belfast and the Millennium Forum in Derry.
- Applicants must bring their fully completed application form AND proof of identification & proof of residency documents to their local application centre.
- These centres will open from 30th June and run until 29th August, which is the deadline for receipt of application forms to be in time for the 1st October start date for 60 Smartpass concession. During July and August, applications can only be processed at the dedicated application centres. The dedicated application centres will close on 29th August and following this, applications should be returned to any manned bus and rail stations – i.e. those with staff who can accept applications.
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