English national scheme

The English National Scheme
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 11pm Monday to Fridays and all day at weekends and on public holidays.

New expiry date '31 March 2010 sticker'

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.

The term 'local buses'
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.

Local buses in London (not part of London Transport)
In most cases, you will be able to use your freedom pass on local buses in London which are not part of the Transport for London bus network.

A list of eligible routes will be produced by April 2008. This will also 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.

Local bus service on National Express
In most cases you will not be able to use your freedom pass on National Express coaches. 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

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.

Principal or sole residence
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.

Disabled 'London Only' sticker
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". This does not apply to passes issued to disabled people in Wandsworth.

Cross-border journeys
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.

Other English authority passes used 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 9.30am and 11pm 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.

Showing your passes to bus drivers outside London
All card readers on buses outside London use a different technology and cannot read your freedom pass. You will need to show your freedom pass and photocard to the bus driver.

Future smartcards
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.

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

Complaints
For complaints you should speak to the relevant bus company in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you can complain to the relevant local transport authority.