Free bus travel for the over 60s in England

MSE_Martin

What is this all about?

From Tue 1 April 2008 everyone aged over 60, or eligible as disabled, can get free off-peak bus travel on local buses anywhere in England. Off-peak is travel between 9.30am and 11pm weekdays and anytime during the weekend.

What's changed?

Before this scheme, off peak local travel was possible but only in the area you live. You can now get free buses all over England.

How to get a pass

If your local authority hasn’t already sent you forms, you can get a pass from your local pass provider. If you already have a pass this should automatically be updated to allow national travel.

Special Note for London Freedom Passholders

If you live in London and already have a Freedom Pass you need to get a sticker from your local post office to be able to use your card outside of London. This will also renew your Freedom Pass for free travel on buses, Tubes, trains, London Overground, Docklands Light Railway and trams until 2010.

If you don't already have a Freedom Pass you can apply for one at your local post office, unless you live in Barking and Dagenham, Havering, Sutton or Wandsworth where you will need to contact your local council.

You usually need to fill in an application form and provide a passport-style photo plus proof of your age and address.

What if I live in Scotland or Wales?

Over 60s in Scotland and Wales already get free national bus travel at any time of the day.

In Wales you can get more information from your local council, in Scotland you can find out more from Scotland Travel. You usually need to fill in an application form and provide a passport-style photo plus proof of your age and address.

Traveling by train and coach

Over 60s can also save money when travelling by train or coach.

For cheap train fares the £24 Senior Railcard gives one third off most rail fares in Britain and the National Express coach network in England and Wales is automatically half price for the over 60s (telephone 08705 808 080 for more info). In Scotland, Citylink coaches has a range of discounted fares (telephone 08705 505 050 to find out more).

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Stuart_W

April 1st 2008 brings England-wide concessionary bus travel.

The statutory regulations state that with the new pass (apply via local council) the minimum entitlement will be:

FREE off-peak bus travel from 0930 hrs to 2300 hrs weekdays, any time weekends.

Local authorities are able to extend this as they wish (but must locally fund this). I understand some local authorities will be including local train and tram travel, some authorities starting earlier than 0930 on a weekday. Some of these "extras" may only be available to locally-issued passes, some may be available to all - it is up to local councils to decide.

Does anyone know of a list of national acceptance info for the new pass?

I can confirm that Cambridgeshire offers the minimum statutory entitlement and nothing else.

Anywhere else......?

chalky_bertie

Still waiting for my ny brand new swanky pass for disabled people, but no sign. (epilepsy is classed as a disability for bus travel). West Yorkshire / Metro offers free bus travel after 9.30am and train fares for 35p anywhere in West Yorkshire. I think the buses also cover cross-boundary services into South and North Yorkshire aswell as Lancashire and Greater Manchester I think.

Stuart_W

Suffolk offer free county-wide bus travel for all buses (before 9:30am etc) but only for Suffolk residents.

Cumbria offer each district a different distinction:
Allerdale, Eden, Copeland, Barrow: Free county-wide travel before 9:30am and after 11pm.
Carlisle: Free weekdays after 11pm within Carlisle district.
South Lakeland: Free weekdays after 11pm within South Lakeland district.

South Yorkshire offer free travel from 9am for ALL concessionary pass holders, includes all buses trams and trains in the South Yorkshire PTE area. They have not limited their extension to local passes only.

atrekkie22

Hello

I have a travelsaver pass. In order for me to use it Nationwide, I will have to wait until my new pass arrives. If you have an old one then it won't allow you to use it nationally until the new one arrives.

You can still use your old pass for local travel.

BTW certain disabled people can apply. I have my pass under learning disabilities category.

Alexis

naf123

it has been very difficult to find the local bus services

for example i wanted to travel london to bournemouth entirely on local buses, but it seems very hard to find advice how to do all this for completely free!!

jhp

Some Bus Route ideas here http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7324398.stm
if your pass ever turns up.

JohnFlax

The service provided by Traveline is excellent. You can access it online at:

www.traveline.org.uk

Follow the onscreen instructions by first selecting the area in which you live: in the case of Bournemouth, this is in SW England. Then click on the 'Journey Planner' button near the top of the page

Don't forget to indicate with the radio buttons that you only wish to use 'bus' mode, otherwise you will also be given coach and train times in addition to bus times.

In the 'When' box click on 'Leave after...' and put the relevant time for YOUR pass in the 'Time' box. In some areas this is 09:00 although the majority are 09:30. Remember that this starting time does not apply at weekends so you may start earlier.

Select the correct travel date in the 'Date' box. This is important as many timetable change from winter to summer within the next few weeks. Different times apply at weekends.

Don't forget to plan the return journey.

Have a good journey!

hedgewitch_2

Before you buy your railcard from the railway station, check with your local authority - I don't know how many counties do this but here in Pembrokeshire the card is half price if you get it from the council offices! Last August I paid just £10 for mine and it gives one third off rail tickets, so just one journey that would cost £30 full price pays for the card. No more trying to juggle train times with the availability of cheap tickets. And while we are talking trains, look at different routes from A to B, some are cheaper than others, and I have often made huge savings by booking a journey in 2 parts - for example booking Haverfordwest to Crewe and a separate ticket for Crewe to Derby is much cheaper than one ticket from Haverfordwest to Derby, and although this route takes a little longer there are fewer changes, saving not only money but my old bones as well.

garwatts

So are we allowed free travel in Wales and Scotland as well?

aandpsclare

Short Change for Brits living in England
Recent improvements to the National Travel Pass has resulted in providing an inferior pass for those Brits living in England. Those living in Scotland and Wales can travel on both local buses and long distance coaches, similarly for Brits those living in Northern Ireland who can also travel free in Southern Ireland.
I have writen to my MP about this annomally and I would urge everyone to do the same.