Emergency workers go free at Christmas

PEOPLE who work in the emergency services can get free train travel this Christmas.

Between now and Friday, January 4, all members of the fire and rescue service, ambulance service, RNLI and coastguards who have their ID and are in uniform will not have to pay for their travel while on duty or travelling to or from work on Transport for Wales services.

Police officers already get the offer, but it is being extended further.

The operator took over from Arriva Trains Wales in October and runs services across Wales – although it’s had a difficult start to its tenure.

Customer experience director Colin Lea, said: “We all know what a difficult job our emergency service personnel do in keeping us safe.

“Nationally, the police are already able to travel on trains for free whilst on duty, and we felt that we’d like to extend this to all branches of the emergency services.

“So for Christmas and New Year we’re delighted to offer them all free travel on our services to make it that bit easier to get about in recognition of their fantastic work.

“We’ll carefully consider how this works with a view to what else may be possible in future.”

Mr Lea added: “Currently, n-duty police officers from all forces, including the British Transport Police, are already able to travel free of charge whilst in uniform.

“The arrangement is a longstanding national one.”