English National Bus Scheme

What is the English National Bus Scheme and when does it start?

The scheme started on 1 April 2008 and all older and most disabled freedom pass holders will be entitled to free travel on local bus services in England outside London between 9.30am and 11.00pm Monday to Fridays and all day at weekends and on public holidays. To ensure you are able to benefit from the new concession, you must have renewed your pass so that it has a new sticker with the expiry date 31 March 2010, a rose logo and a bus security hologram.

What is the definition of a 'local' bus?

The definition of a ‘local bus’ will be self-evident in most cases, but in a few instances could include some longer distance buses and coach services where part of their route is registered as a local bus service. If in doubt, freedom pass holders can check with the service operator or local Transport authority in that area.

Why is the London Freedom Pass not being replaced in 2008 with the new national style card in 2008?

The freedom pass is based on the Oystercard technology and the current passes still have a potential further two years’ life. The Government has therefore agreed that London passes will not be replaced with the new style pass until 2010.

Can I apply now to get a new national style card like the one my friends/relatives who live outside London have got?

No – the freedom pass will not be replaced by the national style card until 2010. Instead all older and eligible disabled passes will have a new sticker with a rose logo and bus hologram. This indicates the passholder is entitled to the concession on local buses outside London.

I have a second home in London and my main home is outside Greater London. Can I apply for a Freedom Pass?

No. You are only eligible for a freedom pass if your sole or principal residence is in Greater London and you are aged 60 or over or are an eligible disabled person. If you have a second home in London, you must apply to the authority where your principal residence is located. If London Councils becomes aware that you are not entitled to a freedom pass because you do not comply with the residency requirement, it will take steps to deactivate the pass so you cannot use it.

Will all freedom pass holders be able to use their pass anywhere in England?

A few disabled passes are issued under the discretion of your local borough and the Government has given local councils no powers to extend the eligibility of these passes to include the national bus concession. These will be renewed with a sticker which has the 31 March 2010 expiry date and the words “London only”.

I have a discretionary disabled pass which has a “London only sticker”. Does this means I am losing any entitlement to travel?

No. You have the same entitlement as other freedom pass holders on Transport for London buses, underground, trams, DLR and National Rail within Greater London. There has been no reduction in your entitlement to concessions.

Why can’t I travel 24 hours a day with my disabled pass outside London as I can in London?

The English national bus scheme only obliges local transport authorities to offer off-peak travel on local buses between 9.30am to 11.00pm. Any travel outside these times is considered as a local benefit and is funded at the discretion of the local authority. Generally, most local authorities will only offer local benefits to their own residents.

I have a disabled freedom pass and am a wheelchair user. In London all buses are fully accessible. Is this the case outside London?

No. You are advised to contact the local transport authority of the area in which you wish to travel in advance to find out about the accessibility of buses in that area.

Will I be able to use my freedom pass on local buses in London which are not part of the Transport for London bus network?

In most cases, yes. A list of eligible routes have been provided . This will indicate the times when the freedom pass will be valid, and will be available on the www.freedompass.org website. You can also check with the relevant bus company.

Will I be able to use my freedom pass on National Express coaches?

In most cases no. However, there are a few places where National Express provides a local bus service and in these cases the freedom pass will be accepted within the eligible times. You should check with National Express before you travel - www.nationalexpress.com or 08705 808080

I am visiting another place in England. Can I use my pass on trams or local trains?

No. There is no requirement for tram or train operators to accept concessionary travel passes from outside their own area even if they accept passes issued to residents in the local area.

What happens if I want to travel on a bus outside London outside the times that my freedom pass is accepted (9.30am to 11.00pm)?

Generally, you cannot use your pass to travel outside of these times and will have to buy a valid ticket for the journey. It is advisable to check with the relevant bus company before you travel or you can contact Traveline (www.traveline.org.uk or 0871 200 2233).

How do I use my freedom pass on the bus outside London – do I place it on the card reader?

No. All card readers on buses outside London use a different technology and cannot read your pass. You just need to show your freedom pass and photocard to the bus driver.

I am visiting Scotland/Wales/Ireland. Can I use my freedom pass there?

No. There are no reciprocal arrangements between England and other countries for the acceptance of each others’ concessionary passes.

What happens when a bus service starting in England reaches the border with Scotland or Wales?

The national bus concession guarantees free off-peak local bus travel for eligible residents within England, but not within Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. However, local transport authorities do have the discretion to make special arrangements (which are funded locally) where they feel they are appropriate. This could, for example, include free travel on cross-border journeys. It is advisable to check with the relevant bus company.

If I am allowed to travel beyond the border with England or Wales, would I be able to use my pass for a return journey starting in England or Wales?

It will be for the Local Transport Authority making the arrangements with neighbouring authorities in England and Wales to determine eligibility for free return journeys.

I have a relative/friend visiting London from elsewhere in England and they have a new national style pass. Can they use this in London?

People holding a national pass issued by another English authority can use that pass on local bus services in Greater London between the hours of 9.30 and 11.00 pm Monday to Friday, anytime at weekends and on public holidays. Passes from outside London are not valid on the tube, trams, DLR and National Rail at any time.

I have a friend / relative visiting London from elsewhere in England and they have a new national style pass. Can they use the pass electronically on London bus readers?

No. In London, the freedom pass is an Oyster smartcard and the buses have smart readers, but they are based on a different technology to the one being introduced elsewhere in England.

The Government is working towards a national standard which will ensure that, in the future, the same smartcard will work throughout England as well as on different modes of transport, such as trains and trams. Work is planned to make the readers on London buses able to read the national passes, but this will take time. In the meantime, people from outside London should simply show their passes to the bus driver when boarding the bus.

I have a relative/friend visiting from Scotland/Wales/Ireland. Can they use their concessionary travel pass in London?