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Public Transport Concessions: Free Bus Pass, Senior Railcard and More

Elderly couple sitting near the front of a bus

Estimated Reading Time: 10 minutes

Klara Coxill

Care Expert

Last Updated: 24/07/2024

Older adults in the UK are eligible for a variety of public transport concessions, helping save you money in the process. These include a Senior Railcard, a Disabled Persons Railcard, an Older Person’s Bus Pass and more!

Here, we’ve looked at how to get each of these discounts or freebies for older adults, along with other discounted forms of public transport you may be eligible for.

We also have an article dedicated to discounts for carers .

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London Freedom Pass

60+ london oyster photocard, discounts on rail travel.

You could be eligible for one of the following railcards that’ll get you discounts on train services, depending on your age, relationship and whether you’re classed as having a disability:

Senior Railcard (60 years and over)

Disabled Persons Railcard

Two Together Railcard

Both of these are discount cards. You purchase them each year for a set fee and they get you a third off the cost of your train travel.

Senior Railcard

The Senior Railcard is available for anyone aged 60 and over to buy. This costs just £30 (or £70 for three years), so will have effectively paid for itself after only a few train trips.

When using the Senior Railcard, you can expect to make average annual savings of £76, or £5.34 per journey. For example, a train from London to Liverpool goes down from around £68.60 to £45.25, while a train from Doncaster to London goes down from £32.50 to £21.45.

You can apply for one of these through the Senior Railcard website . You’ll need a valid passport or UK driving licence for ID. You can also apply in person at some of the UK’s most staffed railway stations.

If you meet any of the following criteria, you could be eligible for a Disabled Persons Railcard:

You receive a disability-related benefit, such as Personal Independence Payment , Attendance Allowance or Severe Disablement Allowance
You’re registered as deaf or you use a hearing aid
You’re registered as having a visual impairment
You have epilepsy

To apply for this railcard or to get more information surrounding eligibility criteria, visit the Disabled Person’s Railcard website .

Senior Railcard For Couples

Though there’s no railcard specifically aimed at older couples, the Two Together Railcard works in the same way for people of all ages. This railcard is to be used by you and a second person - both of you will be named on the railcard. They’re best used by yourself and the person you travel with most - often your partner or spouse.

When using a Two Together Railcard, you get one-third off rail fares when travelling together. It costs just £30 and leads to average savings of £153 per year (or £6.26 per journey).

For example, travelling from London to Edinburgh would typically cost around £145, but this goes down to £95.70 with a Two Together Railcard. Similarly, getting the train from York to London goes down from £88 to £58.

Apply for the Two Together Railcard through the official Railcard website .

Free Bus Pass For Over 60s

You could be eligible for one of the following free bus passes, depending on your age and whether you’re classed as having a disability:

An older person’s bus pass
A disabled person’s bus pass

Both of these passes will get you free travel on local buses.

It might also be worth getting in touch with individual transport operators to see if they offer any discounts. For example, National Express offer Coachcards to older (60+) or disabled customers. These cost £12.50 a year and save you a third on your travel.

Older person’s bus pass

You’ll become eligible for an older person’s bus pass when you reach the State Pension age.

Apply for your bus pass through the GOV.UK website .

Disabled person’s bus pass

Unlike an older person’s bus pass, there’s no central provider for the disabled person’s bus pass.

To find out if you’re eligible and where to apply, get in touch with your local council . All you need to do is enter your postcode and you’ll be redirected to the relevant part of your local council’s website.

We can help you find the perfect UK retirement home . Use our free service to filter by location, price, the facilities available, purchase type and more!

Senior Rail Travel and Bus Discounts Throughout the UK

English national concessionary travel scheme.

The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) covers senior travel discounts in England. Passes are issued locally, but give cardholders free bus travel throughout all of England. An ENCTS bus pass also allows for some free and discounted rail tickets. You must be 66 years or older to be eligible.

Learn more about or apply for an English National Concessionary Travel Pass

c2c Senior Rover Travel

c2c’s Senior Rover ticket allows unlimited one-day train travel for just £7 (or £10 when including London destinations). These are available to anyone aged 65 years and over.

Learn more about or buy a Senior Rover ticket

Greater Manchester Senior Travel Pass

Older adults can get free rail tickets in Greater Manchester between 09:30 and midnight Monday to Friday, and anytime at weekends and during public holidays. Eligibility is based on age and residency in Greater Manchester.

Check if you’re eligible and apply for a Greater Manchester Senior Travel Pass

Merseyside Senior Travel Pass

Senior citizens can get free rail tickets in Merseyside after 09:30 Monday to Friday (to avoid morning peak times), and anytime at weekends and during public holidays. Eligibility is based on age and residency in Merseyside.

Check if you’re eligible and apply for a Merseyside Senior Travel Pass

South Yorkshire Senior Travel Pass

Older adults get 50% off rail fares in South Yorkshire between 09:30 and 23:00 Monday to Friday, and anytime at weekends and during public holidays. Eligibility is based on age and residency in South Yorkshire.

Check if you’re eligible and apply for a South Yorkshire Senior Travel Pass

Tyne and Wear Senior Travel Pass

Older adults in Tyne and Wear can purchase reduced-price train tickets as well as extra discounts if they get a Metro Gold Card (£12 per year). Eligibility is based on age and residency in Tyne and Wear.

Check if you’re eligible and apply for a Tyne and Wear Senior Travel Pass

West Midlands Senior Travel Pass

Older adults get free train travel in the West Midlands between 09:30 and 23:00 Monday to Friday, and anytime at weekends and during public holidays. Eligibility is based on age and residency in the West Midlands.

Check if you’re eligible and apply for a West Midlands Senior Travel Pass

West Yorkshire Senior Travel Pass

Older adults get 50% off rail journeys within West Yorkshire after 09:30 Monday to Friday, and anytime at weekends and during public holidays. Eligibility is based on age and residency in West Yorkshire.

Check if you’re eligible for a West Yorkshire Senior Travel Pass

Scotrail Club 50

Members get a 20% discount on Off-Peak and Advance and cheaper flat-fare tickets when purchased online. These offers are available all year round to Scotrail customers aged 50 and over. Scotrail Club 50 is perfect for people who aren’t yet eligible for a Senior Railcard.

Get a Scotrail Club 50 membership

National Entitlement Card (NEC)

The National Entitlement Card (NEC) allows older adults in Scotland to receive travel discounts. Anyone living in Scotland can access discounted travel schemes throughout the country. To be eligible, you must also be 60 years or over.

Get a Scottish 60+ National Entitlement Card

Edinburgh and Glasgow over 60s rail discounts

Scotland’s two largest cities offer the following rail travel discounts:

Glasgow - Discounted rail tickets on journeys within Strathclyde and Glasgow Subway
Edinburgh - Free tram journeys in Edinburgh

There are also reduced train fares for 60+ NEC holders in other parts of Scotland.

Welsh Concessionary Travel Card

In Wales, travel discounts for older adults are covered by the Welsh Government Concessionary Travel Scheme. This offers free bus travel throughout Wales to people aged 60 and over, as well as some free and discounted rail tickets.

Apply for a Welsh Concessionary Travel Card

The following free and discounted rail travel is available to Welsh Concessionary Travel Scheme holders:

Cardiff and Valleys Line
Conwy Valley Line
Wrexham to Hawarden Bridge
Cambrian Coast
Heart of Wales Line

Learn more about discounted senior travel in Wales

Northern Ireland

60 plus smartpass.

You’re eligible if aged between 60 and 64 while being a permanent Northern Ireland resident. A 60 Plus SmartPass entitles you to free bus and rail travel throughout the country.

Apply for a 60 Plus SmartPass

Senior SmartPass

This is aimed at permanent Northern Ireland residents over 65. They entitle you to free bus and rail travel throughout the country, along with free cross-border rail travel all along the Belfast to Dublin line.

Apply for a Senior SmartPass

London Freedom Passes allow London residents to travel around the city for free, including on trams, National Rail services, the Underground, river services and buses, as well as free local bus journeys nationally.

If you live in London, you can apply for a Freedom Pass if one of the following applies to you:

You’ve reached the State Pension age (in this case, you’ll be eligible for an Older Person’s Freedom Pass)
You have a disability (in this case, you’ll be eligible for a Disabled Person’s Freedom Pass)

You can travel for free on TfL (Transport for London) services with an Older Person’s Freedom Pass from 09:00 on weekdays and anytime on weekends and bank holidays. A Disabled Person’s Freedom Pass allows you to travel at any time on TfL services.

To learn more about the London Freedom Pass or to apply for it, visit the London Councils Freedom Pass webpage .

Apply for an Older Person’s Freedom Pass

Apply for a Disabled Person’s Freedom Pass

If you’re over 60 but under the State Pension age and you live in any London borough, you can get a special Oyster card for free travel in the city on several different rail services.

Many people get a 60+ London Oyster Photocard before they’re entitled to a Freedom Pass. If you’re eligible for a Freedom Pass, you can’t get a 60+ London Oyster Photocard.

This costs £20 and gives free travel on:

The London Overground
TfL (Transport for London) Rail

As well as all London Overground and TfL Rail services, you can also use the 60+ London Oyster Photocard on certain National Rail services on the following lines:

Chiltern Railways
Great Northern
Greater Anglia
Southeastern

You can learn more about the 60+ London Oyster Photocard and make an application through their webpage on Transport for London .

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