Concessionary travel on local buses
People over the age of 60, and those of any
age with a disability, and resident in England, can obtain a bus
pass to enjoy free off-peak local bus travel anywhere in
England. Since 1st April 2009 the new Northumberland
County Council has taken over the scheme previously provided by the
six district and borough councils in Northumberland.
The scheme is free and easy to use, once you
have your pass. You can nip into town more often, or explore
new places. Just check the bus times and let someone else do
the driving. Travel for free and go further by bus!
The national scheme offers free local bus
travel for those eligible from 9.30 am until 11 pm on Mondays to
Fridays, and all day at weekends and bank holidays. Within
Northumberland, the new council has extended the entitlement to
provide travel from 9 am.
The concession entitles pass holders to free
travel on any off-peak local bus in England. The definition
of a local bus may include some tour buses and the element of any
long-distance coach service that is registered as a local bus
service – if you are in doubt you should check with the bus
operator. You cannot use the pass on the Metro system in Tyne
and Wear or on local train services.
For journeys across the border into Scotland,
the bus operators may charge a fare for the part of the route
outside England, but the neighbouring Scottish authority may offer
a concession for the whole journey. Passes issued in Scotland
are not generally available for use on buses in England, but the
Scottish authority may offer travel on sections of route in
Northumberland on cross-border routes. If you have a pass
issued in Scotland, contact your local authority for details.
If you want to apply for a new pass, you can
apply by post at Northumberland County Council, County Hall,
Morpeth, Northumberland NE61 2EF. Alternatively you can apply
in person at one of our Information Centres. You can also
call our customer services team on 0845 600 6400
for more information - your call is charged at local rate.
Click on this link for the addresses of our
Information Centres.
If you are unable to travel alone, you can apply for a
Companion Pass. This enables a friend,
relation or carer of your choice to travel with you. You will
need certification to show you are unable to travel alone, and the
application form (see below) shows you how to apply.
If you have lost your concessionary bus pass, you can apply for
a replacement from where you obtained the original pass. The
charge for a replacement pass is £3.
Click here to
download the current application form for a concessionary
travel pass.
