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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/may/29/armed-forces-veterans-rail-travel
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Armed forces veterans should get concessions on rail travel, says Labour | Armed forces veterans should get concessions on rail travel, says Labour |
(4 months later) | |
Labour has said train companies should be forced to offer concessionary rail travel to armed forces veterans. | Labour has said train companies should be forced to offer concessionary rail travel to armed forces veterans. |
Serving members of the military, and their spouses, can already buy an HM forces railcard, allowing them to buy tickets at a discount, but Labour said on Wednesday that it wanted rail companies to extend this to all 333,000 members of the armed forces pension schemes. | Serving members of the military, and their spouses, can already buy an HM forces railcard, allowing them to buy tickets at a discount, but Labour said on Wednesday that it wanted rail companies to extend this to all 333,000 members of the armed forces pension schemes. |
Maria Eagle, the shadow transport secretary, said: "If [rail companies] cannot voluntarily bring forward a scheme this year, then ministers must act to make it a condition of all future rail franchises." | Maria Eagle, the shadow transport secretary, said: "If [rail companies] cannot voluntarily bring forward a scheme this year, then ministers must act to make it a condition of all future rail franchises." |
Labour believes that rail firms can afford to fund the proposed scheme themselves because they made more than £300m in profit in 2011 – 12. | Labour believes that rail firms can afford to fund the proposed scheme themselves because they made more than £300m in profit in 2011 – 12. |
"It is right that a small proportion of these profits are used to support those who serve in the name of national security," the party said. | "It is right that a small proportion of these profits are used to support those who serve in the name of national security," the party said. |
Jim Murphy, the shadow defence secretary, said: "This would be a meaningful move to support those who have given so much to our country. Service personnels' struggles and sacrifices often do not end when they leave the battlefield." | Jim Murphy, the shadow defence secretary, said: "This would be a meaningful move to support those who have given so much to our country. Service personnels' struggles and sacrifices often do not end when they leave the battlefield." |
Around 72,000 members of the armed forces have an HM forces railcard, which entitles them to a third off most fares. | Around 72,000 members of the armed forces have an HM forces railcard, which entitles them to a third off most fares. |
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