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Concessionary travel

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There are a number of ways to travel across the country, across the North East and in Newcastle. Here we draw attention to all the options available.

Am I eligible for a Concessionary Travel Pass?

You are eligible for an English National Concessionary travel pass, also known as a free bus pass, once you reach your 66th birthday. It is free for your first year.

Individuals with certain disabilities can also get an English National Concessionary travel pass. To check if you’re eligible visit newcastle.gov.uk .

Where can I use my bus pass?

With an English National Concessionary Travel Pass you can travel for free on:

any Tyne and Wear bus from 9.30am weekdays, and all day at weekends and on public holidays
for 60p on the Shields Ferry from 9.30am Monday to Friday, all day at weekends and on public holidays
for 50p on Northern Rail services between Newcastle and Metrocentre/Blaydon, from 9.30am Monday to Friday and all day at weekends and on public holidays
any local bus in England (including all major cities) between 9.30am to11.00pm weekdays, and all day at weekends and on public holidays

For further information contact Nexus .

How to apply for a free bus pass

You can apply for your English National Concessionary travel pass up to 28 days before you become eligible. It is worth doing this as it may take 28 days for your to receive it. You can either:

apply for the first time online (older or disabled people)
renew or request a replacement online (older or disabled people )

Travel shops are now closed. The application form to apply for the first time or renew is available to download . You will need a photo. You can ask for help or a postal form by telephone: 0191 202 0747.

Updating your Concessionary Travel Pass

If your English National Concessionary Travel Pass is about to expire you can renew it on the month that it’s due to expire or the month before that. You don’t need to send off your old pass.

If your details have changed, such as your address or name, you need to inform Nexus .

Lost your Concessionary Travel Pass?

If you think that you have lost your concessionary travel pass whilst using public transport, contact the appropriate operator. This will either be

Go North East

Your pass may have been handed in to the driver. If you are unsure which operator’s service you can check on Traveline or contact Nexus .

If your pass has not been found you will need to apply for a new English National Concessionary Travel Pass at a cost of £5.

Is your Concessionary Bus Pass valid?

Ticket machines on local bus services now tell you if your Concessionary Travel Pass is not valid for travel.

Why would your pass be cancelled?

if you informed your card issuer that your pass is lost or stolen.
if your pass is being used fraudulently by someone other than you the pass holder.
if you are no longer entitled to concessionary travel.

What happens if the ticket machine says your pass has been cancelled?

if your pass is not valid you are not entitled to free concessionary travel
the driver will tell you that your pass is not valid. You will be asked to pay the normal adult fare. If you don’t want to pay the fare you can’t travel.
contact your card issuer using the phone number shown on the back of your pass as soon as you are able to arrange for a new pass to be issued.

If you have more than one pass how do you know which one is valid? If you have more than one pass, use the pass with the longest expiry date. Other passes with an earlier date will have been cancelled and will not be valid for travel.

For more details call the phone number on the back of your pass.

Free bus travel for companions

A Companion Card lets you take someone with you free of charge when you travel on buses in Tyne and Wear, County Durham, Northumberland and Darlington. It’s available to residents of Tyne and Wear who receive certain allowances and are not able to travel without a companion.

Metro Gold Card from Tyne and Wear Metro

If you have an English National Concessionary travel pass, you can apply for a Metro Gold Card . This gives you unlimited travel on Tyne and Wear Metro, on Northern Rail services between Newcastle and Sunderland and also the Shields Ferry.

The Gold card offer can be used all day at weekends and on public holidays and weekdays after 9.30 am. This is known as ‘off peak’. If you have a hospital appointment you can use your pass before 9.30 am if you carry and show your hospital letter. During July and August and between Christmas and New Year, you can travel before 9.30 am.

The card costs £12 a year if you live in Tyne and Wear or £24 if you live outside Tyne and Wear. Your Gold card will be loaded onto your English National Concessionary Travel Pass. You can do this at a Metro station ticket machine.

For further information, including how to apply contact Nexus .

You can renew your Gold Card up to 7 days before your current pass expires. To check the expiry date touch your CT Pass on the orange reader at a Metro station. Or, if you have an NFC (near field communication) enabled smartphone, install their Pop card checker app and check your expiry date using your phone. Visit Google Play and search for Pop card checker.

Lost your Metro Gold Card?

If you have lost your Metro Gold Card with your Concessionary Travel Pass on it you will need to report it to Nexus as soon as possible. You will then need to purchase a new Metro Gold Card from your local travel shop.

Concessionary Ferry Fares

You can get discounted fares on the Shields Ferry with your English National Concessionary Travel Card if you live in Tyne and Wear. Pay 60p single from 9.30am Monday to Friday, all day at weekends and on public holidays.

If you have a Metro Gold Card, you can travel for free on the Shields Ferry from 9.30am Monday to Friday, all day at weekends, on public holidays and throughout July and August.

For more information about concessionary ferry fares visit Nexus.org.uk

Reduced cost Metro travel

Tyne and Wear Metro offer some cheaper ways to travel

Metro families offer: Up to three children aged 11 and under can now travel free on Metro with a fare-paying adult. This includes someone with a Gold Card.

Under 16 year olds: can get discounted travel on the metro with a POP card

Day tickets: for unlimited travel

Senior Railcard

The Senior Railcard is available to anyone aged 60 years old or over and will save you 1/3 of the cost of most rail fares to almost anywhere in Great Britain, including certain fares on various rail or sea journeys.

A one year railcard costs £30 and a three year card costs £70.

To apply, you can get an application form from railway station ticket offices or a National Rail-licensed Travel Agent. The completed form needs to be handed in together with proof of your age, such as your Birth Certificate, Passport or Driving Licence.

You can also purchase or renew your Senior Railcard online or over the phone. You will need proof of your age/identity, so have your Birth Certificate, Passport or Driving Licence to hand when you call. You can’t apply for a Senior Railcard by post.

As well as making savings on rail fares, the Senior Railcard also entitles you to other special offers, such as on London theatre tickets.

Disabled Person’s Railcard

The Disabled Person’s Railcard is available to disabled people and provides 1/3 off most rail fares across Britain for you and a companion. You can apply on their website or download an application form to return in the post.

Other useful railcards

Veterans Railcard for those who have served for at least one day or more in Her Majesty’s Armed Forces (Regular or Reserve). Merchant Mariners who have seen duty on legally defined military operations are also eligible.
16-25 Railcard for anyone aged 16 to 25, or in full time study.
26-30 Railcard for anyone aged 26 to 30.
Family & Friends Railcard for anyone travelling with one child, or more.
Two Together Railcard for two named adults travelling together.
Network Railcard for travel in the South East of England
16-17 Saver for anyone aged 16 or 17.

Other Useful Information

Day Trips and Visits article on Information Now
The Elders Council of Newcastle publish EC Rider , a Summer Outings leaflet with ideas and tips on days out using your concessionary travel pass.
North East and Cumbria Hubs Mobility Advice Service offer free advice on using public transport and and alternate travel options.

Last updated: November 10, 2023

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Useful organisations

Website: arrivabus.co.uk

Tel: 0344 800 4411

Address: ARRIVA North East Ltd , NE2 1QS

Email: [email protected]

Website: disabledpersons-railcard.co.uk

Tel: 0345 605 0525

Address: Disabled Persons Railcard Office , DD11 9AN

Elders Council of Newcastle (Older People’s Forum)

Website: elderscouncil.org.uk

Tel: 0191 208 2701

Address: The Elders Council of Newcastle , NE4 5PL

Website: gonortheast.co.uk/services

Tel: 0191 420 5050

Address: Go North East , NE8 1BR

Website: nexus.org.uk

Tel: 0191 203 3333

Helpline: 0191 20 20 747

North East and Cumbria Hubs Mobility Advice Service

Website: cntw.nhs.uk/nedm

Tel: 07816 129 405

Helpline: 0191 287 5090

Address: Walkergate Park Hospital , NE6 4 UD

Website: senior-railcard.co.uk

Tel: 0345 3000 250

Address: National Railcards , LE65 9FA

Stagecoach North East – Customer Services

Website: stagecoachbus.com

Tel: 0191 566 0231

Address: Stagecoach North East , SR5 1AQ

Website: traveline.info

Tel: 0871 200 22 33

Address: Customer Services Traveline Information Ltd , WC2A 1QS

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How to use your travel pass intro

Information on how to use your concessionary travel pass, including when you can and can't use your pass.

Within Northumberland

For bus journeys starting in Northumberland, the council has extended the times when passes are valid as follows:

Holders of older people’s passes can travel all day from 9am on Mondays to Fridays (with no evening time restriction) and all day Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays.
Holders of older people’s bus passes can also travel before 9am on journeys boarding in Northumberland, if they have a hospital appointment letter proving they need to travel earlier.
Holders of disabled people’s and companion passes can travel free all day any day.

Outside of Northumberland

The ENCTS entitles pass holders to free travel on any off-peak local bus in England. If in doubt about which bus you can travel on, please contact your local operator.

Off-peak travel

9:30am - 11pm from Monday to Friday
All day Saturday, Sunday, and bank holidays

Metro trains

You cannot use your concessionary pass on the Tyne and Wear Metro system.
Residents of Northumberland with a valid concessionary pass can purchase a  Metro Gold Card , which allows free off-peak travel on the Metro system.

Travelling to Scotland

Holders of English passes are able to travel on parts of some cross-border routes from Northumberland. This is on the basis that the journey either starts or ends in England.
18, 260 - Berwick to Duns
60 - Berwick to Galashiels (via Duns)
67 - Berwick to Galashiels (via Kelso)
34, 235, 236, 253 - Berwick to Eyemouth
131 - Newcastle to Jedburgh
710 - Newcastle to Coldstream/Kelso
32 - Berwick to Swinton
87 - Berwick to Kelso

Travelling from Scotland:

Passes issued in Scotland are not generally available for use on buses in England.
The Scottish authority may offer travel in Northumberland on cross-border routes.
If you have a pass issued in Scotland, please contact your local authority for more details.

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Free morning bus and Metro travel for concession pass holders on way to get Covid vaccine

Elderly and eligible disabled pass holders can travel for free before 9.30am if they are on their way to get the Covid-19 vaccine

15:08, 20 JAN 2021

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Concessionary Travel pass holders can travel to early Covid-19 vaccine appointments for free on the Metro and Tyne and Wear buses, Nexus has confirmed.

Usually, Tyne and Wear concession bus passes and Metro Gold Cards can only be used after 9.30am, but pass and cardholders will be able to use them for free before 9.30am if they are on route to a coronavirus vaccine appointment and can show proof. The scheme works in the same way as the withstanding 'hospital appointment' concession.

Newcastle's Centre for Life vaccination centre has a dedicated bus stop while it is open.

Councillor Gladys Hobson, chair of the North East Joint Transport Committee’s Tyne and Wear Sub-Committee, said: “Public transport has a key role to play in getting people to vaccine centres as part of the national effort to defeat Covid-19.

“We want to make this as easy as possible for people, which is why we have relaxed the rule so that concessionary pass holders can travel before 9.30am if they have an early appointment to get a jab.

“This extra concession works the same as the longstanding ‘hospital appointment’ concession. Concessionary Travel passes and Metro Gold Cards can otherwise be used after 9.30am weekdays and all day at weekends and public holidays.

“This agreement is only for people who have a valid appointment on the day of travel. I urge passengers not to make any non-essential journey on any of our services.”

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Nexus Concessionary Travel Passes - Disabled Children

If you are disabled, live in Tyne and Wear and have a Concessionary Travel Pass, you can travel on buses in Tyne and Wear for free. To qualify for a Concessionary Travel pass, your child has to be initially assessed by Children’s Services.

If your child is eligible for a Concessionary Pass you will be given a Confirmation of Eligibility form to allow you to obtain, via post, a pass from the Concessionary Travel Bureau at Nexus’ Head Office.

To find out about eligibility criteria and what documentation you will need to bring with you, contact the Children’s Disability Service on 0191 566 2190

For more information contact your Concessionary Travel Bureau at Nexus on: 0191 203 3434, pick up a leaflet at any Nexus Travelshop or visit the website at: www.nexus.org.uk/concessions/disabled-children

Please note: Metro journeys are not covered by the Concessionary Travel Pass. For metro journeys you would need to purchase an annual metro Gold Card which costs £25 per year if you live in Tyne and Wear.

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Concessionary passes changes

Published on 19 March 2020 05:06 PM

Restrictions on concessionary bus passes and Metro cards to be lifted

Nexus has agreed to lift current restrictions preventing free travel in Tyne and Wear for some passengers before 9:30am.

Senior citizens and people with some disabilities are entitled to free off-peak travel on buses with a concessionary pass or a discounted Metro Gold Card.

Huw Lewis, Customer Service Director at Nexus, said: “In response to a number of supermarkets dedicating their first trading hour to older people, and also to a number of enquiries from our customers, we have taken the decision to lift the 9.30am start time for concessionary passes on buses, Metro and the Shields Ferry.

This will hopefully give people more opportunity to travel when they need to without paying extra, but we would also like to remind all passengers that Government advice is to only use public transport if the journey is absolutely essential.”

The restrictions will be lifted from Friday 20 March 2020.

Full information and updates on timetable changes for bus, Metro and ferry is available at www.nexus.org.uk/coronavirus

The above change also applies to Go North East buses. https://twitter.com/gonortheast

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If you live in Tyne & Wear and have a concessionary travel pass, you can travel for free on the Metro from 9.30am till close of service (Monday – Friday) and all day at weekends and public holidays, if you buy a Metro Gold Card.

You can travel prior to 9.30am for hospital appointments, people who work or are in education for over 15 hours per week. Travel is free at any time during the months of July and August.

You can buy a Gold Card at Metro station ticket machine or at a Nexus Travel shop. Remember to take your concessionary travel pass with you.

Contact the Customer Services for more details or look at the Nexus website (details are on front page).

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