Over 66 pass applied for - query about validity

[Willie Bee]

I'll be 66 next month, so hopefully I'll get a free bus pass thingummyjig .. I applied a couple of days ago, as it says to apply up to a month before the actual birthday date.

Will this be only for my local area (Tyneside) or can I travel on any bus in the UK ?

I booked train tickets for a few days away in March (Leeds & York) and realise that I added PlusBus tickets when really, I probably didn't need to.

 

[mikeg]

Any bus subject to time restrictions in England

 

[Simon75]

Any bus subject to time restrictions in England

Some exceptions, like park and Ride, certain airport services, some tourist buses

 

[Lewisham2221]

I'll be 66 next month, so hopefully I'll get a free bus pass thingummyjig .. I applied a couple of days ago, as it says to apply up to a month before the actual birthday date.

Will this be only for my local area (Tyneside) or can I travel on any bus in the UK ?

I booked train tickets for a few days away in March (Leeds & York) and realise that I added PlusBus tickets when really, I probably didn't need to.

Any bus* in England. Transport matters are devolved, so we ended up with multiple similar, but incompatible schemes. To confuse things further, the English scheme sets out minimum standards (09.30-23.00 Mon-Fri, All day Sat/Sun/Bank Hols) but each local authority administers the scheme separately and they are permitted to enhance their areas scheme as they desire (and can afford!!!). In some areas this may include 24/7 free travel, reduced fare "peak" time travel, tram travel and so on, although this may be limited to holders of that areas passes only, and sometimes only applies to one pass type (Senior Citizen or disabled).

In short, it's probably safer to assume buses only, 09.30-23.00 Mon-Fri.

*A small number of services may be excluded, usually anything classed as a coach, express or "special" service (often things like park and ride services, football/event shuttle buses, tours, services to theme parks etc).

 

[Willie Bee]

OP here .. Thank you for the replies

 

[paul1609]

I'll be 66 next month, so hopefully I'll get a free bus pass thingummyjig .. I applied a couple of days ago, as it says to apply up to a month before the actual birthday date.

Will this be only for my local area (Tyneside) or can I travel on any bus in the UK ?

I booked train tickets for a few days away in March (Leeds & York) and realise that I added PlusBus tickets when really, I probably didn't need to.

Its anywhere in England. One of my local bus routes is the 100 service from New Romney to Rye accross the marshes. In summer theres always groups of pensioners doing a "round the coast of England trip" on their free passes often for charity!

 

[6Gman]

My understanding is that you can also use cross-border services if you board or leave within your "home" country.

So on an English pass you can travel (say) Chester to Mold, but not (e.g.) Mold to Wrexham. But then Wrexham to Chester o.k.

But not if you "break your journey" en route.

 

[dvboy]

My understanding is that you can also use cross-border services if you board or leave within your "home" country.

So on an English pass you can travel (say) Chester to Mold, but not (e.g.) Mold to Wrexham. But then Wrexham to Chester o.k.

But not if you "break your journey" en route.

That's correct, the same applies on the Newport bus service between Lydney and Chepstow.

 

[Ken H]

Careful on summer Saturday 'Dalesbus' services. Many are deemed scenic routes so you have to pay. But currently its only £2 a journey. And its not all Dalesbus services, just some.

 

[Olympian]

My understanding is that you can also use cross-border services if you board or leave within your "home" country.

So on an English pass you can travel (say) Chester to Mold, but not (e.g.) Mold to Wrexham. But then Wrexham to Chester o.k.

But not if you "break your journey" en route.

This unfortunately also varies across England and in the case of Chester to Mold or Wrexham only applies to “local” Chester West and Cheshire, Halton and Warrington ENCTS passes. Passes from elsewhere in England are only valid for free travel within Cheshire on cross-border services.

 

[Buzby]

And heading North, Carlisle and Berwick on Tweed are the northern limits

 

[Olympian]

And heading North, Carlisle and Berwick on Tweed are the northern limits

Not quite! You can go from Cumberland into Scotland as far as Gretna, Canonbie and Under Burnmouth with ENCTS passes. Likewise from Northumberland you can go to Duns, Galashiels, Eyemouth and Jedburgh on certain cross-border services.

 

[Busaholic]

Sheffield Supertram is unusual in offering free travel to such passholders in the usual permitted hours. Most tram networks only allow their own residents the concession.

 

[Buzby]

Not quite! You can go from Cumberland into Scotland as far as Gretna, Canonbie and Under Burnmouth with ENCTS passes. Likewise from Northumberland you can go to Duns, Galashiels, Eyemouth and Jedburgh on certain cross-border services.

In practice though, the chances of finding and travelling the route will be the same minefield I experience in the opposite direction.

My Saltire Card will let me travel to Berwick on Tweed and Carlisle, the difficulty is in finding a bus. National Express do not accept any NEC only their own. If I want to reach Carlisle from (say) Glasgow, I need to go via Dumfries, then a local service to Lockerbi, lastly a local coach from Lockerbie via Gretna to Carlisle bus station. That’s two changes and a very slow transit that makes paying for the train a sensible alternative. The only plus site is that we don’t have blackout times M-F, just not most designated ‘night’ services.

 

[Stan Drews]

In practice though, the chances of finding and travelling the route will be the same minefield I experience in the opposite direction.

My Saltire Card will let me travel to Berwick on Tweed and Carlisle, the difficulty is in finding a bus. National Express do not accept any NEC only their own. If I want to reach Carlisle from (say) Glasgow, I need to go via Dumfries, then a local service to Lockerbi, lastly a local coach from Lockerbie via Gretna to Carlisle bus station. That’s two changes and a very slow transit that makes paying for the train a sensible alternative. The only plus site is that we don’t have blackout times M-F, just not most designated ‘night’ services.

I thought the Stagecoach 79 still ran fairly regularly between Dumfries-Annan-Carlisle?

 

[Buzby]

I thought the Stagecoach 79 still ran fairly regularly between Dumfries-Annan-Carlisle?

It only ran from Annan to Carlisle (not Dumfries - which seems a ploy to prevent using Stagecoach Glasgow-Dumfries then Dumfries-Carlisle). Another ‘missing link’!

 

[GusB]

The OP is based in England, so let's keep the thread relevant to journeys commencing on that side of the border, please. Thanks

 

[175mph]

It's also worth noting that if your local council allows pre-9:30 travel using your pass, you can travel on a service that starts in your council area and crosses the border into a different council area before 9:30, but once over the border, you can't use your pass again until 9:30.

 

[JKP]

I'll be 66 next month, so hopefully I'll get a free bus pass thingummyjig .. I applied a couple of days ago, as it says to apply up to a month before the actual birthday date.

Will this be only for my local area (Tyneside) or can I travel on any bus in the UK ?

I booked train tickets for a few days away in March (Leeds & York) and realise that I added PlusBus tickets when really, I probably didn't need to.

You will be able to travel on Borders Buses 60, 235, 253 between Berwick and Eyemouth; Borders Buses 67 between Berwick and Kelso; Borders Buses 60 between Berwick and Galashiels. On all of these routes one end of your journey must be in Northumberland. It can also possibly be used on Peter Hogg X74 between Newcastle and Jedburgh though would suggest checking with operator before travelling.

 

[Harpers Tate]

As far as I can gather (and this may be of no relevance to the OP's intentions - but to explore further some of the edge-cases mentioned by others) it's
a) determined to some extent by the administering local authority (i.e. they may interpret their obligations differently) and
b) determined by where you BOARD (but not alight) the bus.

Thus there have been reported and/or confirmed cases where
- (eg Red Arrow Nottingham <> Derby) one local authority deems this an express and thereby outwith the scheme, and the other does not. If you board within the Nottingham area you pay. If you board within the Derby area, you don't.
- (eg York Park & Ride) An otherwise normal stage carriage service exists to serve a P&R site. If you board at the P&R site, you pay. If you board elsewhere en route (even a nearby roadside stop) you don't. And when you board for your return trip, you don't pay.

 

[Typhoon]

If travelling a lot further south, it is valid in London although the card does not scan.

 

[PeterC]

If travelling a lot further south, it is valid in London although the card does not scan.

In which case just walk on holding the card up for the driver to see.

 

[Typhoon]

In which case just walk on holding the card up for the driver to see.

Quite - but someone new to it may just try and scan again and again.

 

[PeterC]

Quite - but someone new to it may just try and scan again and again.

And if somebody dithers and acts unsure about validity a poorly trained driver may reject the card. I have seen many accounts of people having had provincial cards refused but by being confident and not attempting to initiate a discussion about validity I have never had a problem. I regularly use my card in both the centre and the suburbs

 

[Willie Bee]

OP here .. many thanks again for all the interesting replies

I'm really looking forward to reaching 66 now

 

[YorkRailFan]

Careful on summer Saturday 'Dalesbus' services. Many are deemed scenic routes so you have to pay. But currently its only £2 a journey. And its not all Dalesbus services, just some.

I've noticed that Dalesbus services operates by North Yorkshire County Council Minibuses accept bus passes from pensioners.

 

[Ken H]

I've noticed that Dalesbus services operates by North Yorkshire County Council Minibuses accept bus passes from pensioners.

all NYCC operated buses here. not sure many are 'Dalesbus' branded.

North Yorkshire Council

(Link goes to a list of North Yorkshire operated services provided by Bustimes)

Dalesbus leaflet here - https://www.dalesbus.org/uploads/1/1/3/9/113919127/dalesbus.pdf (Link to pdf of bus times in the dales)

There are many old Dalesbus leaflets on timetableworld.com

 

[RELL6L]

OP here .. many thanks again for all the interesting replies

I'm really looking forward to reaching 66 now

It makes a difference- but not as much as before the £2 fare cap. I have made a point of continuing to travel when I want and not waited until 9.30.

 

[Geordie driver]

OP here .. many thanks again for all the interesting replies

I'm really looking forward to reaching 66 now

If I recall correctly, Nexus permits the use of these passes out of the time restrictions if it's for a doctor's or hospital appointment.

 

[341o2]

In Hampshire and Dorset, you may use a pass on the Breezer services, but not on the New Forest Tour. However, purchase of a ticket for the Tour entitles you to free connecting travel by Morebus. It mentions X3 and X6 to Ringwood and X1 & 2 to Lymington. Presumably the scheme does not cover Bluestar 6, which connects at Lyndhurst