Veterans
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Ex-members of the Defence Forces with service related disabilities, ex-members of the defence forces with vision impairment, WW1 veterans, recipients of the Victoria Cross and the George Cross and war widows and widowers are entitled to a range of free travel and concession fares on transport services in NSW.
Ex-members of the Defence Forces Pass
If you are a war veteran
with disabilities, from Australia, New Zealand or from WWII Allied
Nations with reciprocol pension rights with Australia and have been
rated by the Department of Veterans Affairs as having a service related
disability of 10% or greater for which you receive a disability
pension, you are entitled to free travel on all government rail and
ferry services, government and private bus services (excluding school
services) and most private ferries in NSW as well as the concession
Gate Pass at Airport Line stations.
Free travel is not available on special or premium services: charter services, special event services, tourism services, Metro Light Rail. Concession entitlements on privately operated services may differ and if in doubt you should check with the operator. Veterans receive concession fare on Metro Light Rail upon presentation of valid DVA Pensioner Concession Card (blue card) and Seniors Card and free travel for veterans in uniform on Anzac Day. Alternatively present your Pensioner Excursion Ticket for unlimited travel on Metro Light Rail with the same ticket and at no extra cost.
To obtain the free travel on eligible services, you must hold an Ex-members of the Defence Forces Pass, which must be carried at all times when travelling so you can produce it if requested to do so by Transport staff.
To obtain your pass you need to lodge an application form with the RailCorp Passes and Concessions Office. You can download an Ex-Member of the Defence Forces Pass application form (pdf) here, obtain a copy from the RailCorp Passes and Concessions Office, the Department of Veterans Affairs or a regional RSL Sub Branch office. Passes are issued free of charge and are current for three years.
In addition, pass holders who reside outside the CityRail Sydney Suburban and Newcastle Suburban areas are eligible for up to 3 free return trips or 6 free single trips per calendar year on CountryLink for journeys within NSW, or the NSW portion of an interstate trip.
Free travel entitlements for attendants is also available for holders of passes marked 'plus attendant' and those who separately hold a Companion Card. Assistance animals travel free with holders of the Assistance Animals Permit.
Pass holders may also be entitled to subsidised travel on taxis under the Taxi Transport Subsidy Scheme.
NSW Blinded Soldier Pass
If you reside permanently in NSW and
are a war veteran classified by the Deartment of Veterans Affairs as
blinded due to war service you are entitled to free travel on all
government rail and ferry services, government and private bus services
(excluding school services) and most private ferries in NSW as well as
free access to Airport Line stations.
Free travel is not available on special or premium services, charter services, special event services or tourism services. Concession entitlements on privately operated services may differ and if in doubt you should check with the operator.
To obtain the free travel you must hold a NSW Blinded Soldier Pass which must be carried at all times when travelling so you can produce it if requested to do so by Transport staff.
To obtain your pass you need to lodge an application form with the RailCorp Passes and Concessions Office. You can download a NSW Blinded Soldier Pass application form here, obtain a copy from the RailCorp Passes and Concessions Office, the Department of Veterans Affairs or a regional RSL Sub Branch office. Passes are issued free of charge and are current for three years.
Free travel entitlements for attendants is also available for holders of passes marked 'plus attendant' and those who separately hold a Companion Card.
Pass holders may also be entitled to subsidised travel on taxis under the Taxi Transport Subsidy Scheme.
Assistance animals travel free with pass holders with or without an Assistance Animal Permit.
World War 1 Veteran's, Widows Free Pass
If you reside in NSW and are a WWI
veteran, recipient of the Victoria Cross or George Cross or a widow or
widower of someone who was, you are entitled to free travel on all
government rail and ferry services, government and private bus services
(excluding school services) and most private ferries in NSW as well as
free access to Airport Line stations.
Free travel is not available on special or premium services, charter services, special event services or tourism services. Concession entitlements on privately operated services may differ and if in doubt you should check with the operator.
To obtain the free travel you must hold a World War 1 Veteran's, Widows Free Pass which must be carried at all times when travelling so you can produce it if requested to do so by Transport staff.
To obtain your pass you need to lodge an application form with the RailCorp Passes and Concessions Office. You can download a NSW WW1 Veteran's, Widows Free Pass application form here, obtain a copy from the RailCorp Passes and Concessions Office, the Department of Veterans Affairs or a regional RSL Sub Branch office. Passes are issued free of charge and are current for three years.
Free travel entitlements for attendants is also available for holders of passes marked 'plus attendant' and those who separately hold a Companion Card.
Assistance animals travel free with pass holders with or without an Assistance Animal Permit.
NSW War Widow/ers Concession Card
If you are an Australian
citizen or permanent resident, reside permanently in NSW, are a widow
or widower of a member of the Australian Defence Force who died in
active service and receive a War Widows Pension from the Department of
Veterans Affairs you are entitled to half fare concessions on the
metropolitan and outer metroplitan public transport network, three
special daily excursion tickets and limited free travel on CountryLink
or Great Southern Rail services.
To obtain the concession fares you need to obtain a NSW War Widow/ers Concession Card. Cards are issued free of charge by the Department of Veterans Affairs and are valid for 12 months to 31 December each year. You must have your card when purchasing tickets or booking your free travel and carry the card with you when travelling to present to Transport staff if requested.
The concession and free travel available to holders of the card is the same as that available to holders of the Pensioner Concession Card. See our Travel Concessions for Pensioners page for details.
