Travel costs: people over 60

 

Index

You can read through this information sheet, or go directly to the sections you want to read by clicking on these links:

• Bus travel
• Train travel
• Further information

Bus travel

England

In England, all people of state pension age or over have the right to free bus travel (at off-peak times) on buses anywhere in England. Off-peak times are between 9.30am and 11pm on weekdays and all day on the weekend and on bank holidays.

You can work out the exact date of your state pension age by using the state pension age calculator (link opens in a new window) on the Government's GOV.UK website.

The bus pass is available from your local council. You can find the contact details of your local council (link opens in a new window) on the Directgov website.

In London, if you turned 60 before 6 April 2010, you have a right to free bus travel at any time, not just at off-peak times. See the Transport for London website for more information on the freedom pass (link opens in a new window).

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Wales

In Wales, people aged 60 or over can have a free bus pass. This allows them free bus travel at any time, on all bus services in Wales.

The bus pass is available from your local council. You can find the contact details of your local council (link opens in a new window) on the GOV.UK website.

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Scotland

In Scotland, people aged 60 or over can have a national Entitlement Card. This allows them free bus travel anywhere in Scotland.

You get the Entitlement Card from your local council. You can find the contact details of your local council (link opens in a new window) on the GOV.UK website.

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Northern Ireland

In Northern Ireland, if you are 65 or over, you can get a Senior SmartPass which gives you the right to free travel within Northern Ireland.

You get the application form from a main bus or rail station. 

See also the NI Direct information on bus travel and other concessions (link opens in a new window).

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Train travel

England, Wales and Scotland

If you are 60 or over, you can buy a Senior Railcard for an annual fee of £28. This will give you a one-third discount on rail fares throughout England, Wales and Scotland.

Follow this link for more information about senior railcards (link opens in a new window).

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Northern Ireland

If you are 65 or over, you can get a Senior SmartPass which gives you the right to free train travel within Northern Ireland. You get the application form from a main bus or rail station.

The NI Direct website has more information on rail travel concessions in Northern Ireland (link opens in a new window)

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Further help

Ask your local council (link opens in a new window) for more information about travel concessions

You may also qualify for help with travel costs in other circumstances, such as:

• public transport concessions for disabled people
• Local Welfare Provision in your area may help with the cost of visiting someone in hospital or to going to a funeral.
• help with the costs of travel to hospital for treatment.  See our information sheet on Benefits and hospital for more information.

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1 April 2013