Travel

Concessionary Travel Fares

Outside Greater London Area

From 1 April 2006, everybody aged 60 and over is entitled to a Concessionary Bus Travel Permit entitling the bearer to free travel for journeys starting or ending within the County/ Metropolitan Area they live.

The pass can be used after 9.00 a.m. Monday - Friday and any time on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays.

The bus pass can be used for free travel on journeys which start or finish within any of the districts in the County. This includes journeys which cross the county boundary.

Enquiries 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.

Within Greater London Area

Men and Women aged 60 and over who are permanently living in a London boroughare 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.

Nationwide

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.

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

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

ore 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