Serving forces and veterans can travel free on Transport for Wales trains on Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day, and on the Friday before to get to Cardiff.
It matches the offer First Bus announced last week, so for most people in south west Wales both the train and the bus to a Remembrance service are now covered.
The rail offer runs on Remembrance Sunday, 8 November, and Wednesday 11 November across the whole Transport for Wales network. On Friday 6 November it applies only for journeys to and from Cardiff Central, for the operator’s own Remembrance service there.
TrawsCymru buses, the long-distance routes including the T1 from Carmarthen and the T6 from Swansea, are free on the Sunday and the Wednesday only.
What to show the guard
Serving Armed Forces personnel in uniform travel free without paperwork. Anyone out of uniform, serving or veteran, needs one of three things: an MOD90 identity card, a Veterans Railcard, Veterans Oyster card or Ministry of Defence veterans ID card, or other proof of veteran status such as pension papers.
That is a stricter test than the bus. First Cymru drivers will accept medals or uniform as well as an ID card, and First’s offer covers cadets, who are not mentioned in the rail scheme.
TfW says the free travel is part of an industry-wide initiative across Wales and the borders, “to honour the service and sacrifice of members of the Armed Forces community”.
Where people are heading
In Swansea the Cenotaph service on the promenade starts at 10.30am on Remembrance Sunday. The parade leaves Lower Oxford Street at 1.30pm for the Minster.
On Armistice Day the council’s Swansea Remembers event is in Paxton Street at 10.30am, with the two-minute silence at the Cenotaph at 11am.
Every Remembrance date and time in Swansea is here, from the Festival of Remembrance at the Brangwyn Hall to Poppies to Paddington at the railway station.
First Cymru drivers will pull over at 11am on both days for the silence where it is safe to do so. TfW has not said whether its trains will do the same.
Both offers cover travel on the day only. Anyone planning to stay over for the Cardiff service on Friday 6 November pays the normal fare for any other journey.
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