Greater London Authority Act 1999

240 Travel concessions on journeys in and around Greater London

(1) Subject to subsection (3) below, any local authority, or any two or more local authorities acting jointly, may enter into arrangements with Transport for London under which—

(a) Transport for London grants, or arranges with some other person for that other person to grant, such travel concessions as may be provided for by the arrangements to any persons eligible to receive them in accordance with subsection (5) below; and

(b) that local authority reimburses (or, as the case may be, those local authorities in such proportions respectively as they may agree amongst themselves reimburse) the cost incurred in granting those concessions.

(2) Subject to subsection (3) below, any London authority, or any two or more London authorities acting jointly, may enter into, with any independent transport service operator or with the Franchising Director, arrangements under which—

(a) that operator or (as the case may be) the Franchising Director grants such travel concessions as may be provided for by the arrangements to any persons eligible to receive them in accordance with subsection (5) below; and

(b) that authority reimburses (or, as the case may be, those authorities in such proportions respectively as they may agree among themselves reimburse) the cost incurred in granting those concessions.

(3) The concessions that may be provided for by any arrangements under subsection (1) or (2) above are concessions on journeys—

(a) between places in Greater London;

(b) between such places and places outside but in the vicinity of Greater London; or

(c) between places outside but in the vicinity of Greater London.

(4) Any arrangements entered into by a local authority under subsection (1) or (2) above may include provision for the performance of functions in connection with the travel concessions in question by the local authority or local authorities concerned.

(5) The persons eligible to receive travel concessions under arrangements made under subsection (1) or (2) above are persons, or any description of persons,—

(a) who have attained pensionable age (within the meaning given by the rules in paragraph 1 of Schedule 4 to the [1995 c. 26.] Pensions Act 1995);

(b) who are so blind as to be unable to perform any work for which sight is essential; or

(c) who suffer from a disability or injury which, in the opinion of the local authority or any of the local authorities by whom the cost incurred in granting the concessions falls to be reimbursed, seriously impairs their ability to walk.

(6) In subsection (2) above “independent transport service operator” means any person, other than a person to whom subsection (7) below applies, operating—

(a) a public service vehicle undertaking (“public service vehicle” for this purpose having the meaning given by section 1 of the [1981 c. 14.] Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981);

(b) a system using guided transport within the meaning of subsection (1) of section 67 of the [1992 c. 42.] Transport and Works Act 1992;

(c) a railway within the meaning of that subsection;

(d) a tramway within the meaning of that subsection;

(e) a trolley vehicle system within the meaning of that subsection; or

(f) an undertaking providing public passenger transport services on the river Thames or a tributary of the river Thames between places in Greater London or between places in Greater London and places outside Greater London.

(7) This subsection applies to—

(a) Transport for London or any of its subsidiaries;

(b) the Franchising Director; and

(c) any person providing public passenger transport services in pursuance of an agreement entered into by Transport for London by virtue of section 156(2) or (3)(a) above or in pursuance of a transport subsidiary’s agreement.

(8) In this Chapter—

• “the Franchising Director” means the Director of Passenger Rail Franchising;

• “local authority” means the council of a county or district and any London authority;

• “London authority” means any London borough council and the Common Council; and

• “travel concession” means the reduction or waiver of a fare or charge either absolutely or subject to terms, limitations or conditions.

(9) For the purposes of this Chapter a reference to an agreement entered into by Transport for London under section 156(2) or (3) above includes a reference to an agreement—

(a) which was entered into by London Regional Transport under section 3(2) or (2A) of the [1984 c. 32.] London Regional Transport Act 1984, and

(b) which by virtue of section 300 or 415 below has effect as if made by Transport for London.