A million pound military milestone>

A million pound military milestone

National Express and Defence Discount Service mark 100,000 coach journeys, saving members over £1 million.National Express and the Defence Discount Service are celebrating a special milestone today as the UK’s largest military travel discount – 60 per cent off standard coach fares – reaches a hundred thousand uses.In news welcomed by the Minister for Defence Veterans, Reserves and Personnel Mark Lancaster, the UK’s largest coach operator and the only official Ministry of Defence discount service, reveal one hundred thousand discounted coach journeys have been made since National Express became the first company in the UK to sign the government’s Armed Forces Covenant when it launched in 2013.The hundred thousand journeys equate to savings made by the Armed Forces community well in excess of one million pounds, with service personnel, veterans, reservists and spouses taking advantage of the discount to travel the length and breadth of the UK affordably.National Express Managing Director Tom Stables said: “In serving our country, the Armed Forces – and the wider forces community - make a tremendous sacrifice, and for that we are extremely grateful. That’s why we’ve committed to helping the Service Community in many walks of life – from our travel discount to employability training schemes, paid work placements, guaranteed interviews and extra leave for Reservists. “We are thrilled to reach this special milestone through our discount for people in the Armed Forces and their families. As their work means they often have to move frequently, our discount offers a travel lifeline to connect with friends and family all over the UK.” The National Express military discount offers 60 per cent off standard fares for serving personnel, with veterans, Reservists and spouses of serving personnel offered 30 per cent off.People simply need to register free on the Defence Discount Service online to access the offer, then present their Service ID or Defence Privilege card when boarding the coach.The UK’s largest coach company is committed to its support of the UK’s Armed Forces, and as well as offering the UK’s biggest travel discount for serving personnel also offers a range of other initiatives, including guaranteed interviews for service leavers.