Travel
Concessionary Travel Fares
Outside Greater London Area
From 1st April 2008 holders of Concessionary Bus Travel Permits will be able to use their pass on any local bus service throughout England. The scheme will cover only local bus services. Local buses are those run by operators to a published timetable that the public can use without advance booking. It will not be available on long distance express coach services such as National Express nor on trains, London Underground or tram services. It will be, however, valid on London Buses. Travel is permitted between the time of 09:30am to 11:00pm on weekdays, and all day weekends and bank holidays.
The changes made in the December 2009 Pre-Budget Report does not effect existing holders. You will not lose your pass.
But people who become 60 in future will get their pass later than their 60th birthday.
From 6 April 2010, the age of eligibility for concessionary travel for women will be pension age and for men it will be the pensionable age of a woman born on the same day.
The state pension age for women is rising by five years over a period of ten years. The age of eligibility will rise incrementally, that is, in stages, between 2010 and 2020. The earliest age for men and women to get concessionary travel passes will therefore rise gradually, from 60 on 6 April 2010 to 65 on 5 April 2020. The Government decided that this would be the fairest method, rather than introduce a one-off rise which would leave those currently close to retirement age facing a full five-year delay.
Further information from the government website www.direct.gov.uk/travelandtransport
The Bus company Arriva have produced a useful website www.arrivabus.co.uk/over60
Enquiries for passes should be made to your local authority (i.e. the one to whom you pay your rates).
All local authories have a website in the form of www.councilname.gov.uk.
Visit the website www.transportdirect.info/Web2/JourneyPlanning/JourneyPlannerinput.aspx to plan your journey by bus.
Within Greater London Area
Men and Women aged 60 and over who are permanently living in a London borough are entitled to a pass giving free travel on buses, trains, trams, docklands light railway and underground services in London after 9am on weekdays (9.30am most national rail services) all day weekends and public holidays. It is paid for by your council to help older people get around. A leaflet is issued with your pass to provide more information on the services included. In addition the nationwide bus passes are available(see above section)
The changes made in the December 2009 Pre-Budget Report does not effect existing holders. You will not lose your pass.
But people who become 60 in future will get their pass later than their 60th birthday.
From 6 April 2010, the age of eligibility for concessionary travel for women will be pension age and for men it will be the pensionable age of a woman born on the same day.
The state pension age for women is rising by five years over a period of ten years. The age of eligibility will rise incrementally, that is, in stages, between 2010 and 2020. The earliest age for men and women to get concessionary travel passes will therefore rise gradually, from 60 on 6 April 2010 to 65 on 5 April 2020. The Government decided that this would be the fairest method, rather than introduce a one-off rise which would leave those currently close to retirement age facing a full five-year delay.
Visit the website www.transportdirect.info/Web2/JourneyPlanning/JourneyPlannerinput.aspx to plan your journey by bus.
Coach Travel
Many coach companies offer reduced fares for the over 60. National Express over half fares for those over 60 (Routesixty fare). More information from the website www.nationalexpress.com
Senior Railcard
If you're 60 or over you are eligible for a Senior Railcard(cost £20, rises to £24 in January 2008) and you can save 1/3 on most fares.
There are plenty of ways you can use your Railcard, for both long and short trips. You can use it anytime on weekends, Public Holidays and during the week( except certain morning peak period services).
Tickets you can use your Railcard with:
- Standard Cheap Day Singles and Returns
- Standard Open Singles and Returns
- Standard Day Singles and Returns
- First Class Cheap Day Returns
- First Class Day Singles and Returns
- First Class Open Singles and Returns
- First SuperAdvance*
- Leisure First
- Most Rail Rovers
- Savers, SuperSavers
- SuperAdvance and some other advance purchase Singles and Returns*
- The Weekender and Network AwayBreaks
- You can also get a discount on Off-Peak Day Travelcard (All Zones only), subject to a minimum fare level and on some ticket types offered by individual Train Companies - please enquire locally for details.
* These tickets need to be booked before you travel.
Tickets you can't use your Railcard with:
- Railair Links (except for through rail tickets issued for travel via the Railair link between between Reading Station and Heathrow Airport)
- Eurostar
- Special excursions or charters
- Some coach/bus links
- Season tickets or period Travelcards
- Some Train Company special offers e.g. Apex
More information from the website www.senior-railcard.co.uk
Please see Dining Out section for special benefits at Cafe Rouge for holders of the Senior Railcard
Reduced Fares
With or without the Senior Railcard you can obtain reduced fares by purchasing your rail ticket in advance online. The further ahead you book the more choice of fares you will have. Tickets can generally be purchased 12 weeks ahead when rail timetables are released. Try one of the following sites to buy your tickets:-
Also register direct with the following train companies to receive early notification of reduced fares. Also booking direct may get you an additional discount and sometimes save you a credit card charge..
www.nationalexpresseastcoast.com
Current Deals
First Great Western are offering the 'Over 55s' an off-peakstandard return ticket to travel anywhere on First Great Western’s train network for just £25 under its ‘Club 55’ promotion Holders of a Senior Railcard get a further £5 off. The offer ends Tuesday 7 April.Further information from www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk
Chiltern Railways have a special deal for travel Birmingham and London. Return tickets are available for just £10 on off-peak travel. Further information from www.chilternrailways.co.uk Using a senior railcard I have obtained a return ticket london to Birmimhham for just £6.60. Tickets are available if you choose off peak times.