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Concessionary Fares

National Bus Pass Scheme for Older People and People with Disabilities

If you're of eligible age or have a registered disability you are entitled to a national bus pass which allows you to enjoy free off-peak travel on local bus services anywhere in England.

Eligible age:

For a woman eligible age means state pension age, for a man this means pensionable age of a woman born the same day. For more information see Q3.

Bus Journeys are FREE if:

You show or scan your National Bus Pass AND
You are boarding a local bus in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead (RBWM) at any time OR
You are travelling anywhere else in England and are boarding a local bus during off-peak-times.

Off-peak is:

9.30am to 11pm Monday to Friday
all day at weekends and on public holidays.

Please check local conditions for travelling outside of RBWM by contacting the relevant local authority.

NEWS - Renewing your National Bus Pass

Royal Borough bus pass users are being reminded that many passes began to expire from April 2012 - and being advised on what they need to do to renew them.

Anyone currently holding a National Bus Pass will be sent a letter from the council a few weeks before the pass is due to expire. Residents wishing to renew this pass should complete the tear-off form providing their:

full name
address and
the last four digits of their buss pass number

- information is needed to verify that they are still eligible for a pass.

Bus Pass

Once the form has been received their new National Bus Pass will be posted to them. There is no need to reapply in person.

However, anyone who has moved home or changed their name since receiving their bus pass must reapply in person with evidence that they are a permanent resident of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead and, if relevant, evidence of their name change. (Please note that an Advantage Card is not suitable proof of residence and users need to bring their current bus pass).

Please help anyone you know who might find it ifficult to complete and return the form.

Residents unable to travel on a bus without assistance can apply for a companion pass. For details of how to apply contact the customer contact centre on 01628 683806 or email customer.service@rbwm.gov.uk.

Any bus passes which are no longer needed should be returned to the following address where they will be cancelled:

Concessionary Fares
CSC, RBWM
Town Hall, St Ives Road
Maidenhead SL6 1RF

How to apply and who is eligible
Using your new National Bus Pass
Additional information (including lost or stolen bus passes)
Companion bus passes
Contact information
Eligibility Leaflet
Concessionary Fares Conditions of Use (pdf)

How to apply and who is eligible

1. How do I apply for my free National Bus Pass?

Applications should be made in person at one of the Council's 5 issuing sites: Please bring evidence that you live permanently in the Royal Boroughof Windsor and Maidenhead (RBWM) and proof of age or disability. Please see pdf below for a full list of documents that we will accept as proof of eligibilty.

In instances where you are not able to produce any of these documents to prove your entitlement to a disability-related bus pass, you may need to make your own appointment to be assessed by an appropriate medical specialist.

We will take a photograph of you and carry out further checks on your application to verify your application. We will post your bus pass to you winthin 10 days.

Customer Services Centre, Maidenhead
Town Hall, St Ives Road, Maidenhead, SL6 1RF
(Opening times for bus pass and companion bus pass applications: Mon-Thur 08.45 - 17.15, Fri 08.45 - 16.45)
Customer Services Centre, Windsor
York House, Sheet Street, Windsor, SL4 1DD
(Opening times for bus pass and companion bus pass applications: Mon-Thur 08.45 - 17.15, Fri 08.45 - 16.45)
Charters Leisure Centre
Charters Comprehensive School, Charters Road, Sunningdale, SL5 9QY
(Opening times for bus pass applications: Mon-Wed 16.30 - 22.00, Thur 16.30-23.00, Fri 16.30-21.30 & Sat-Sun 09.00-18.00)
Magnet Leisure Centre
Holmanleaze, Maidenhead, SL6 8AW
(Opening times for bus pass applications: Mon-Wed 10:00 - 17:00; Thur 12:00 - 20:00; Fri 10:00 - 17:00; Sat 09:00 - 16:00; Sun 10:00 - 16:00)
Windsor Leisure Centre
Clewer Mead, Stovell Road, Windsor, SL4 5JB
(Opening times for bus pass applications: Mon-Fri 10:00 - 21:00; Sat 10:00 - 18:00; Sun 10:00 - 16:00)

Contact phone number 01628 683806.

Please note that the Companion Bus Passes are only issued from one of the two Customer Service Centres above.

Bus passes are not issued at Windsor Information Centre or Performance at Braywick.

2. Who is eligible?

All borough residents over the eligible age or who are registered disabled.

3. How do I qualify if I am an older person?

Women qualify for the older person's bus pass at their state pension age and men qualify at the pensionable age of a woman born on the same day.

The easiest way to find out when you can apply for your National Bus Pass is your date of birth.

Residents born between 6 April 1950 and 6 April 1955 can claim their bus pass at the pensionable age of a women born on the same day
Residents born after 6 April 1955 can claim their bus pass on their 65th birthday

Please see the Eligibility table webpage to find out when you will be eligible for an older person's bus pass.

There is also a 'ready reckoner' tool which enables people affected by the pension age changes to see at what age they become eligible for their state pension and associated benefits, including the National Bus Pass. You can find this on the Direct Gov website.

4. How do I qualify if I am disabled?

The seven categories of disability include any person who:

is blind or partially sighted
is profoundly or severely deaf
is without speech
has a disability, or has suffered an injury, which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to walk [registered disabled]
does not have arms or has long-term loss of the use of both arms
has a learning disability, that is, a state of arrested or incomplete development of mind which includes significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning
would have an application to drive a motor vehicle refused due to their disability.

Please note: if you have a blue disabled parking badge you qualify for a bus pass. You do not, however, automatically qualify for a blue disabled parking badge if you have a disabled bus pass and further assessment of your disability may be required. If you would like to find out more about the blue disabled parking badge scheme, please see the Blue Badge webpage.

For more information about eligibility, please visit the Direct Gov website.

Using your National Bus Pass

5. When are bus journeys free?

Bus journeys are free if:

You show or scan your National Bus Pass AND
You are boarding a local bus in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead (RBWM) at anytime OR
You are travelling anywhere else in England and are boarding a local bus during off-peak times.

Off-peak is:

9.30am to 11pm Monday to Friday
all day at weekends and on public holidays.

Please check local conditions for travelling outside of RBWM by contacting the relevant local authority.

6. How do I use my National Bus Pass when travelling in RBWM?

You may travel for free of charge when starting your local bus journey in RBWM at any time.

You may board a Green Line service (routes 701, 702) in RBWM at any time to make journeys as far as Bracknell in one direction and Langley in the other. For journeys to destinations beyond Langley (that is, to London) the pass may not be used on journeys coded 'red' in the Green Line timetable or before 8.15am Mondays to Fridays. For further information, please call Green Line on 0844 800 44 11 or visit the Green Line website.

A Companion Bus Pass is available to RBWM residents who are unable to travel by bus without assistance. This allows them to be accompanied by a person who will travle free of charge, subject to restrictions. See Questions, 11, 12 & 13 for more information.

7. How do I use my National Bus Pass outside RBWM?

Slough and Bracknell
You may use your bus pass on local bus journeys starting in Slough and Bracknell anytime.

England
Please assume that you may only travel free of charge in the rest of England on local bus journeys starting between 9.30am-11pm Monday to Friday and all day at weekends and on public holidays. This is the national minimum (off-peak times). Time restrictions are applied strictly.

Local benefits to extend this time may only be available to people resident in those areas. However, it is worth checking with the relevant local authority in the area you are visiting before you travel.

If you have a Companion Bus Pass the national minimum applies but your companion may have to pay the full adult fare if the journey is started outside RBWM.

Rest of UK
The National Bus Pass is only valid in England.

8. How do I use my bus pass?

Show your pass to the driver as you get on. If the bus is fitted with an electronic pass reader, touch the reader with your pass. This identifies that you are entitled to a free journey and records that the journey has been made.

If you are unsure, please ask the driver when boarding the bus.

9. Can I travel on any bus?

You can travel free of charge on local, off-peak bus services in England. Qualifying local bus services will be self-evident in most cases. They do not usually include services:

where most seats can be reserved, as on coaches. Some longer distance buses and coach services are included where part of their route is registered as a local bus service (such as the Green Line)
that run for less than six weeks, such as shuttle buses to special events
for tourists, such as open-top bus tours, or services on vehicles of historical interest
that are running instead of a train - 'rail replacement' services
where the fare includes 'extras', such as refreshments or car parking

Other modes of transport (such as ferries, trains, tubes or trams) are also excluded.

The above list is not exhaustive but gives a guide to the main exemptions; if in doubt please check with the service operator or contact the local authority in which you will be travelling.

10. Where can I get bus information?

For information on times, fares and routes call Traveline Southeast on 0871 200 22 33 or visit Travel Line South East website.

Find bus timetables on board local buses or there is a limited selection available from the Customer Service Centre, Town Hall in Maidenhead and at York House, Windsor, your local Library and Windsor Tourist Information Centre.

For Courtney Coaches services, please visit Courtney Coaches website or request timetables by calling 01344 482200
For First bus services, please visit First Group website or request timetables by calling 01753 524144.

The real-time bus information text service

Receive bus times via your mobile phone wherever you are, whatever you're doing. Send the unique bus stop code (shown on the bus stop sign) to 84268 for scheduled times to 87296 (TRBWM) for real time information. Texts cost 25p plus your network operator's normal charge. To find out more about this service pick up the 'Bus Time by Text' leaflet.

Companion Bus Passes

11. What is a Companion Bus Pass?

A Companion Bus Pass is available to RBWM residents who are unable to travel by bus without assistance. This allows them to be accompanied by a person who will travel for free of charge, subject to restrictions.

12. What do I need to know about the companion bus pass?

You must show your Companion Bus Pass to the driver when boarding the bus.

If you have a Companion Bus Pass and you start a journey in RBWM with a companion you will both travelfree of charge. Both you and your companion must board and alight the bus at the same points.

Your companion may be any person of your choice, including young carers, who can assist you on a bus. A companion is not restricted to one specific person, but only one companion may travel for free of charges on any one journey. Your companion will not receive a bus pass on their own right.

Because the Companion Bus Pass is a local benefit for RBWM residents your companion may have to pay the full adult fare when starting a journey outside RBWM. However, it is worth checking with the relevant local authority in the area you are visiting before you travel.

The Companion Bus Pass may be used by the bus pass holder for free travel when not accompanied by a companion.

You may not hold both a Companion Bus Pass and a standard National Bus Pass. When you apply for a Companion Bus Pass you will be asked to return your standard National Bus Pass to RBWM Council.

13. How do I apply for a Companion Pass?

In addition to being a resident of RBWM and either of eligible age or registered disabled, you are eligible for the Companion Bus Pass if you can show that you find it impossible to travel by bus without assistance. Applications are considered on a case by case basis.

To qualify for a Compaion Bus Pass you will need to show specialist proof - ie a letter from a GP, medical specialist or social worker - confirming that you are unable to travel on buses without the help of a carer.

Companion Bus Pass applications may only be made in person at Maidenhead Customer Service Centre or Windsor Customer Service Centre.

Customer Services Centre, Maidenhead
Town Hall, St Ives Road, Maidenhead, SL6 1RF
(Opening times for bus applications: Mon-Thur 08.45 - 17.15, Fri 08.45 - 16.45)

Customer Services Centre, Windsor
York House, Sheet Street, Windsor, SL4 1DD
(Opening times for bus pass applications: Mon-Thur 08:45 - 17.15, Fri 08.45 -16.45)

Who can apply for a Companion Bus Pass?

If you already have a standard National Bus Pass you will be given a postage paid envelope to return this to the Council once you have received your Companion Bus Pass.

Additional Information

14. I have lost my bus pass, or it has been stolen, can it be replaced?

Yes, please go to one of our issuing sites with proof that you are a permanent RBWM resident. Please be aware that proof of age or disability may also be required. Please be aware that each replacement will incur an admin charge of £15 with some exceptions, such as having a Police Crime Number. This fee also applies if you change your name (for example, through marriage).

15. What should I do with a pass that is no longer needed?

Please return the bus pass to:

Concessionary Fares
CSC, RBWM
Town Hall, St Ives Road
Maidenhead SL6 1RF

We will cancel the bus pass and destroy it securely.

16. I have recently moved into the Borough but still have my National Bus Pass from another English Local Authority. Do I need to apply for a new bus pass?

You need only apply for a new National Bus Pass when your current pass expires, even if your current pass was issued by a different local authority.

17. My pass doesn't scan on electronic readers on buses.

The chip in your card may be faulty. Please contact us on 01628 683806.

18. What does the National Bus Pass look like?

Four types of passes are issued within RBWM:

Bus passes for older people feature a blue strip down the right-hand side
Bus passes for disabled people feature an orange strip
Companion bus passes for older people feature a blue strip down the right-hand side with a capital C in the top right-hand corner
Companion bus passes for disabled people feature an orange strip down the right-hand side with a capital C in the top right-hand corner.

There is a red rose and ribbon running across the top of the cards to represent England. You will also see the RBWM crest on the top right.

19. How will my personal information be used?

Following your application for a National Bus Pass, further checks will be made using the information you provided to verify your eligibility.

The Council has a duty in law to administer a national bus pass scheme for qualifying residents. We will contact you if our checks indicate that you may not be eligible.

The personal details used to produce your pass will be processed in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. Further information about Data Protection and your rights are available on our website and on the Information Commissioners Office website.

Contact Information:

By email: customer.services@rbwm.gov.uk
By telephone: 01628 683806
By post: Concessionary Fares, CSC, RBWM, Town Hall, St Ives Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 1RF

Web page: Bus Services