Apply for a Boarder Rail pass
Eligibility and application process for boarding school students.
A Boarder Rail Pass allows boarding school students to travel for free on regular timetabled coach services for visits to and from home on weekends, or during holiday periods when space is available.
Who can get a Boarder Rail Pass
The pass is available for full-time students, who must be:
- a resident of NSW, or an overseas student eligible for free government education.
- aged 4 years 6 months or older. Pre-school children are not eligible.
- living away from home so they can attend school on a daily basis
Students who board at school
- may be eligible for weekend and holiday travel on NSW TrainLink train and coach services.
Students who board in town near school
- may be eligible for subsidised travel between the family home and the place of boarding at weekends and school holidays.
What trips you can claim
- up to 22 trips per semester can be claimed for students that are weekly boarders.
- up to 9 trips per year can be claimed for students that are term boarders.
Before you apply
You only need to apply if you are applying for the first time.
- Download and complete the paper form.
- You will need a valid email address.
- Save and submit the form with any supporting documents via transportnsw.info/concessions-application
Note:
- If you are under 16 years of age, applications must be made by a parent or legal guardian
- If you are 16 years or older you need to complete and submit the application form yourself.
Things to know
- Journeying to school at the beginning of the week or beginning of term and journeying back home at the end of the week or the end of term is counted as one overall trip for a boarding school student.
- There is no subsidy cap on the distance travelled.
- The Boarder Rail Pass is not a valid form of concession entitlement for other travel routes. Students can apply for a Senior Secondary Student Transport Concession Entitlement Card for travel.
See also
This page is for Boarder Rail Pass applications. If the boarding school student:
- resides away from home but not at the school, and you want to apply for free daily travel, go to apply for a school travel pass
- lives in an area where there is no public transport, you may be able to get a subsidy for driving the student to school. Read more on School Drive Subsidy.
- requires coach travel from a NSW TrainLink train services to either home or school, you can apply for a Long Distance Coach Subsidy.