Free bus and rail travel for the oldies from next...

[losgiganteskid]

I understand that from April 2008 persons over 60 can obtain free bus and rail passes but you have to apply before the end of Sept and send in a passport type photo. Can anyone tell me where I get an application form from please. Thanks in advance

[ritaing]

Hi, I just called in at my post office filled in the form and gave the lady my photo. If your bus pass that you are using now runs out before march next year you will need 2 photo's. hope that has helped you. Ritaing.

[loulou41]

I know about the bus pass, but not sure about the rail pass. Pl can you tell me more about it!! Thanks

[LittleVoice]

Also note that the scheme is for "local" travel, not long distance. You might be able to get from Carlisle to Bodmin for free, but you would have to do it on a series of local services!

I think the national scheme is for local buses only but some areas include rail and tram services as well (possibly just for their own local people).

[msmo]

In Mid Wales where I live, we have had these concessions for a few months now. They are for anywhere withing Wales, If we overstep the border however, we pay the addittional add on charge, which is a small amout. very very usefull... thanks to the Welsh assembly

Ex Brummie msmo

[annamac1]

Can you get a discount on public transport travel on the continent (France and/or Spain) when in receipt of e.g. an Invalidity Pension? My FIL asked this question the other day, a carrot possibly to persuade him to travel with us next time....
Any information links would be appreciated. Sorry, but thhis may be the wrong thread to post this question.

[Newly retired]

I can't say about Invalidty Pension but I got a reduction on French trains just for saying I was over 60 - no ID required even.
In UK there is a separate Senior Rail card which gives you a discount on all tickets. It costs £20 per yr but a couple of longish journeys can easily recoup the initial outlay. However there are sometimes better special offers available without the card.
In West Yorkshire the Metro card for seniors gives free bus travel within the area - you can go beyond and pay extra at the start of your journey for the section outside West Yorks. we can also go on local trains for 35p. with the metro card

[Biggles14]

Originally Posted by losgiganteskid

I understand that from April 2008 persons over 60 can obtain free bus and rail passes but you have to apply before the end of Sept and send in a passport type photo. Can anyone tell me where I get an application form from please. Thanks in advance

If this is your first pass then you can get a form from the post office.
I live in South Glos. and have recently received a letter from the Local Authority (who issue the passes) asking me to fill in a new form for next year as it would seem that we are all going to get a National Bus Pass in place of the local one in issue at the moment. A new photo was not required
as they had a copy of my existing photo. Hope this helps.

Have one on me .

[JackieO]

Originally Posted by Biggles14

If this is your first pass then you can get a form from the post office.
I live in South Glos. and have recently received a letter from the Local Authority (who issue the passes) asking me to fill in a new form for next year as it would seem that we are all going to get a National Bus Pass in place of the local one in issue at the moment. A new photo was not required
as they had a copy of my existing photo. Hope this helps.

Have one on me .

But will it include local rail travel.I ask because as a registered disabled pensioner I buy a pass that gives me a concession for myself and another, and it cost me £18.00 in July of this year for rail travel only.I have a local bus pass for Kent that gives me free travel at the moment

[millie]

I filled a form in this week currently have a West Midlands pass that covers bus and local rail services, I had to attach another photo to it even though I only had my over 60s local pass in February. The form had to be sent back to them by 30th September, it said if not returned by that date i would not get the pass. This could have been a problem as I was on holiday when the form was sent to me so only got it on Tuesday 22nd, good job I did not have a longer holiday.

[Biggles14]

Originally Posted by JackieO

But will it include local rail travel.I ask because as a registered disabled pensioner I buy a pass that gives me a concession for myself and another, and it cost me £18.00 in July of this year for rail travel only.I have a local bus pass for Kent that gives me free travel at the moment

As you are in receipt of a concession for rail travel at the moment I can only assume that it will continue. I can only comment on what happened to me regarding the Bus Only Pass.

[Malcmandy]

I have a free bus pass for Cornwall, but have not had any information from anyone on applying for the national one. Any info. gratefully received.

[anniewoo]

I got my first over 60's bus pass a few weeks ago and the lady said that she wasn't sure yet what would happen in April 08,whether everyone would stick with the passes they had now or whether we would all be issued with new ones.

She said if they were to change,everyone who is on their records as having a pass at the moment would be contacted to go and get a new one.

[feijoa]

Over 60s will be able to enjoy free off-peak bus travel anywhere in England from April next year - says Alistair Darling. Excellent - but how will this affect people like us, who live just south of the Scottish Border? Much of our travel - shopping, outings etc, currently done by car - involves going into Scotland as well as here in Northumberland. I would love to use the bus instead, where possible. However, Scotland has had its own separate pensioners' free travel scheme for some time. Will pensioners from south of the Border be able to get free off-peak travel in Scotland as well - or must you be resident in Scotland for this to apply? Anyone know?

[lizc]

In Sheffield I get a pass that lets me use buses, trains and the tram withing South Yorkshire free, plus small charges for neighbouring areas. I'm wondering, if the new national pass is only for buses, whether we're likely to lose free travel on trains and trams, or will local councils be able to have their own arrangements in addition to the national one?

[feijoa]

...and the obvious corollary to my query above, re free off-peak bus travel in Scotland for residents in England - will those living in Scotland, who already qualify for free bus travel there, also be able to have free off-peak bus travel throughout England? Unless I missed something, I don't think this was made clear in the pre-budget speech or in Ruth Kelly's earlier statement. Need to know!

[seven-day-weekend]

Originally Posted by annamac1

Can you get a discount on public transport travel on the continent (France and/or Spain) when in receipt of e.g. an Invalidity Pension? My FIL asked this question the other day, a carrot possibly to persuade him to travel with us next time....
Any information links would be appreciated. Sorry, but thhis may be the wrong thread to post this question.

These services are incredibly cheap in Spain anyway.

[C_Ronaldo]

The bus services are cheap in france, italy and spain not sure on other EU countries, the ones ive used have been cheap but it could be a different story in other cities

[LimeLight]

The new national passes for elderly and disabled people will come out next April.

Local authorities will keep their existing free travel arrangements, but they will be available to use on all english local buses between the times of 9am and 11pm.

I'll get the link when i get home tonight.

[LimeLight]

Details on here!