Free rail travel for jobseekers

12:05pm Thursday 7th February 2013 in News By Will Lodge

JOBSEEKERS can travel by rail for free under a new scheme.

Train operator Greater Anglia has launched Job Track to help the unemployed back into work.

People can claim up to six day return tickets within the Anglia network to help them get to and from interviews.

Once they find work participants in the scheme can get a free two-month season ticket to help them establish themselves in their new job and assist them in putting their finances on a firm footing.

Comments(8)

25414nora says...
1:03pm Thu 7 Feb 13

Wow free rail travel to look for a job.

Wasn't It the conservative 'Lord Tebbit'
who, after exporting all our british manufacturing jobs, told us to 'get on our bikes' to find work ?

Seems now the Tories have realised it was too far to cycle..

Report this post »

Libetia says...
1:53pm Thu 7 Feb 13

At least I know where my above-inflation season ticket rise has gone. Not on making the trains clean, reliable or safe to travel on.

Report this post »

romantic says...
2:12pm Thu 7 Feb 13

Libetia, I see your point, but it could be seen as a bit of longer-term thinking by Greater Anglia. If somebody has a job and will be travelling by train, they will eventually be paying more money in than if they do not.

OK, somebody gets 2 months for free at the start, but after that, they will be buying tickets, and it will probably be somebody who would not otherwise be using the train.

If that initial cost is the barrier (and if you have been out of work a while, travel costs can be tricky at the start), then it could be seen as a good plan in the long run.

I do wonder how it will work. Will somebody have to present a letter inviting them to an interview? And presumably something which shows they are actually unemployed. So they would need to be working it in conjunction with the Employment Service.

My dodgy side thinks otherwise it would be easy to run up a fake letter and get some free trips to London. Maybe I just mix with the wrong sort of people!

But in principle, although it seems crazy in one way, it could be the thing which does help some people get out of their unemployment.

Report this post »

wormshero says...
3:14pm Thu 7 Feb 13

Six ticket limit? So long as they are used for interviews I'm cool with this. (as a season ticket holder as well)

Report this post »

Boris says...
4:02pm Thu 7 Feb 13

Very good idea, as romantic has explained.
And what does it matter if one or two people use the tickets for other purposes? Greater Anglia has got more important things to do than waste time checking whether someone has got a bona-fide interview to go to.

Report this post »

Feisty CBC says...
9:29pm Thu 7 Feb 13

It's a brilliant idea. Forward thinking from a privatised company.
Shame about the government though.

Report this post »

wellnow says...
10:30pm Thu 7 Feb 13

Great idea.it will also give them an insite in how wonderful rail travel is early morning, every morning rain or shine forever.great joy.

Report this post »

wellnow says...
8:19am Fri 8 Feb 13

Great idea.it will also give them an insite in how wonderful rail travel is early morning, every morning rain or shine forever.great joy.

Report this post »

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree