Free bus travel for over 60s update as calls for London scheme to be extended to rest of England
A proposal has been put forward to extend the free travel system, currently available to all individuals over 60 in London, across the entire country. A significant campaign is underway to provide the same concessionary travel benefits to people in England as those enjoyed by Londoners.
At present, the devolved governments in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland offer free bus travel to individuals from the age of 60. However, in England, it's up to local authorities - many of which are grappling with severe funding issues - to provide this service.
As a result, most people only receive their free pass at the age of 66. This means that free travel for those aged 60 is only available in a few areas, such as Merseyside and London. In these locations, individuals can travel for free on transport services using an Oyster photocard.
Unlike much of the rest of England, London residents enjoy free travel on buses, the Tube, trams, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth line (excluding between West Drayton and Reading) and most National Rail services in London.
They can travel for free on TfL services anytime Monday to Friday, except between 04:30-09:00, and can travel for free anytime at weekends and on bank holidays.
A massive petition calling for free travel for all over 60s in England has just wrapped up on the Parliament website - attracting more than 100,000 signatures.
This means MPs should now debate the issue, which could pile additional pressure on the Department for Transport (DfT) to outline its stance and specifically address the concerns raised. A date hasn't been fixed but is expected to be revealed shortly.
The petition states: "We call on the Government to extend free bus travel to all people over 60 years old in England outside London. We believe the current situation is unjust and we want equality for everyone over 60.
"Currently, people in England who do not live in London are not entitled to free bus travel until they reach the state pension age, which we believe has changed dramatically. As people get older some over 60s drive less and less, therefore we believe we need equality on public transport. It would mean England had the same provision as Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland."
This week brought fresh developments as Tory Nick Timothy questioned Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander in writing about whether people who benefit from the London free travel scheme could use it elsewhere in the country.
This could have major ramifications as any nationwide scheme might lead to the concession being more broadly available. Mr Timothy posed a question to Ms Alexander, asking: "What assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of passengers with a London Freedom Pass being able to travel for free in areas where the eligibility for free travel is set at an older age."
Simon Lightwood, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport, responded that it was up to local authorities to decide whether to allow free travel earlier. He explained: "The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) provides free off-peak bus travel to those with eligible disabilities and those of state pension age, currently 66. In London, the Older Person's Freedom Pass is eligible to all London residents over the age of 66, which is the statutory eligibility for the ENCTS as set out in legislation."
He further clarified: "This therefore means that there would be no instance where a passholder of London's Older Person Freedom Pass would be using their pass in an area where the eligibility for free travel is set at a higher age."
He added: "Residents who live in a London borough and are aged 60 or over are eligible for the 60+ London Oyster photocard. This concession enables passholders to travel for free on Transport for London (TfL) services and cannot be used to board services outside of London, with the exception of a small number of National Rail services connecting into London. This is an additional concession, funded and delivered at the discretion of TfL."
To see the petition on complimentary bus travel for those over 60 in England and to view th e comprehensive DfT response, click here.
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