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ENGLAND'S NATIONAL CONCESSION

 

What does the Concessionary Bus Travel Act offer?

It implements the Chancellor's announcement in the 2006 Budget that the elderly and and disabled residents of England will get free off-peak travel on all local buses anywhere in England (rather than just within their local authority area of residence) from April 2008.

 

What does it mean?

Free local bus travel for those eligible from 9.30am until 11pm Monday to Friday, and all day Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays, across England. Local authorities may choose to offer additional local concessions.

 

What are local bus services?

A local bus service would include any type of town bus service; a rural service which observes all bus stops and interurban services observing all bus stops and which may include a limited stop section of route where the distance between stops is within 15 miles (21.4 kms).

Services which observe stops over 15 miles (21.4 kms) apart are regarded as "Express services", for example National Express or Megabus.com services, and are therefore excluded from England's National Concessionary travel scheme.

 

When was the National Concession introduced?

April 2008, in line with the Chancellor's announcement.

 

Who is eligible for the National Concession?

Residents of England who are elderly, or who qualify as disabled under the categories listed in the Transport Act 2000.

 


How will eligible people get a national concession travel pass?

NoWcard, acting for the Travel Concession Authorities in Cumbria and Lancashire issued over 300,000 National Concession bus passes to existing NoWcard holders for the start of the concession in April 2008. If you still have an oldstyle NoWcard and have not recived your National Concession bus pass you will need to make a new application to your district council, click here for details.

New applicants should apply to the local district council in which they reside. Please click here for details.


Who assesses eligibility?

The local district council in which the applicant resides.

 

Is there a charge for the pass?

Passes in the NoWcard area are currently free. Where local authorities offer more generous schemes they may charge for passes to help pay for the extra entitlement, so long as they still offer a free pass providing the statutory minimum.
A charge will be made for replacement cards.