Local MP Robert Largan is joining Britain’s train companies in promoting the use of a half-price rail discount card to get more jobseekers back on track and into work.
The Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount Card grants holders a 50 per cent discount on rail journeys across Britain, and anyone claiming Jobseekers Allowance or Universal Credit for 3-9 months (18-24-year-olds) or 3-12 months (over 25s) can apply through their Work Coach and local Jobcentre Plus.
New research shows that journeys made using the card dropped by 2,400 in the East Midlands since the start of the pandemic, meaning that thousands of jobseekers could be missing out on significant savings.
This regional drop reflects a national trend that has seen the usage of the card fall by over a third in the months March 2020 to October 2021—with over 62 per cent of journeys taken using the card in London and the South East.
With new unemployment figures out this week, which show joblessness at 98,000 in the East Midlands, Mr Largan is working with the Rail Delivery Group and Jobcentre Plus teams to promote the card in the High Peak.
Last year, jobseekers saved a total of £1.5 million using the discount available to them.
Robert Largan, MP for High Peak, commented:
“Before being elected, I used to commute by train every day from Glossop to Manchester for work.
“I know that for many, rail fares are too high, and that they can have a serious impact on stretched household budgets.
“The Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount Card is a fantastic initiative helping more people to get back on track and into work.”
Jacqueline Starr, Chief Executive of the Rail Delivery Group, commented:
“Over 700,000 journeys were made during the pandemic by people using the Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount Card, including 10,600 in the East Midlands.
“With the world of work opening back up, and new opportunities becoming available, we want to encourage even more people to take advantage as they look to secure new jobs.
“The railway is a key part of Britain’s clean and fair recovery, and this discount card is yet another way that train companies are helping the country to bounce back.”
