(30 Nov 2013, 3:39 pm)BJ10VUS wrote I agree about the free travel, although it would depend where they were travelling and why. I'm not sure about the 'special rate' on the trains though, as if the 685 were to be withdrawn the trains would be the only direct option and would therefore be a monopoly (at least for quite a lot of the route).
I think the 1/3 off is a special enough rate already. There's too much of an everything for nothing culture in the UK. I disagree with the use of 'monopoly'. Many places that aren't served by rail only have one principal operator in their area - Washington and Gateshead for example. If Arriva or Stagecoach wanted to operate in either area they're more than entitled to do so.