Bus Passes, Rail Cards and Travel Concessions
Travel concessions for older people exist in most countries and vary enormously in eligibility, coverage and how they must be claimed.
Typical schemes
Free or reduced-cost bus travel from a qualifying age, sometimes with time restrictions during peak periods.
Discount cards for rail travel, frequently offering a percentage reduction on most fares for an annual fee that pays for itself quickly.
Local schemes for trams, ferries and community transport.
Companion provisions allowing a carer to travel free or at reduced cost with an eligible passenger, which is frequently unknown.
Eligibility surprises
Qualifying ages differ between schemes and between regions within the same country, and frequently differ from the state pension age.
Some schemes have lower qualifying ages for people with disabilities regardless of age.
Some are available to people receiving certain benefits rather than by age alone.
Applications generally must be made rather than being issued automatically, and many people qualify for a year or more before discovering it.
Rail cards
Annual discount cards typically pay for themselves within one or two journeys of moderate length.
Multi-year versions frequently offer better value where available.
Restrictions commonly apply to peak travel and to minimum fares, which is worth checking against the journeys you actually make.
Some cards allow a companion to travel at the same discount, which effectively halves the cost for couples.
Combining and maximising
Advance fares combined with a discount card produce the lowest prices on rail, and the discount usually applies to advance tickets.
Split ticketing — buying separate tickets for parts of a journey — is legitimate where the train calls at the intermediate stations and can reduce fares considerably.
Off-peak travel is substantially cheaper and is usually compatible with concession restrictions.
Practical points
Apply as soon as you qualify, since backdating is generally not possible.
Carry the pass or card whenever travelling, since discounted tickets are invalid without it and penalty fares can apply.
Renew before expiry, and note that some passes require periodic reapplication with updated photographs.
Check what happens when travelling outside your local area, since bus concessions are frequently regional rather than national.
This article is general information. Schemes vary considerably by country and region; check with your local transport authority.
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