Concessionary travel - bus pass

All England Travelcards

There are three categories in which you can apply for an All England Travel Card:

• Over 60s.
• Blind and partially sighted.
• Disabled people.

If you need someone to travel with you, you may be able to apply for companion entitlement.

Over 60s (All England Travel Card, known locally as the Diamond Card)

Who can apply for a travelcard?

• Persons living permanently within the Bristol City Council boundary.
• People who are over the age of 60.

The Government has said that the qualifying age for concessionary bus travel will rise from 60 to 65 over a ten-year period, to tie in with the state pension age. For further details please see Changes to eligibility for Diamond Travelcard (pdf, 20 KB), alternatively you can use the Direct Gov pensions ready reckoner to calculate your date of entitlement.

What travel is allowed?

• Free off-peak travel on local buses between 9.30am and 11pm Monday to Friday and anytime on Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays anywhere in England.
• However, Bristol has an extended scheme in place.  If your journey starts within Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset or South Gloucestershire you can use your Travelcard from 9am until 4am (following day) Monday to Friday and anytime on Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays.
• The Bristol and Bath Open Top City Tours are not included in the All England Travelcard scheme.

How to apply

• Fill in the travelcard for over 60s application form. (pdf, 0.6 MB)
• Send your completed application form along with a photo, proof of ID and residency, to your nearest customer service point.

Disabled persons under 60 (All England Travel Card, known locally as the Diamond Card)

You may be able to apply for a card if you fall under one of the below categories

• Persons whose ability to walk is severely and permanently impaired or
• Persons who have a significant learning disability or
• Persons who are profoundly or severely deaf or
• Persons who cannot speak or whose ability to speak is severely and permanently impaired or
• Persons who cannot use both arms or
• Persons who have a medical condition that is such that they would be barred by the Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency from holding a driving licence

What travel is allowed?

• Free off-peak travel on local buses between 9.30am and 11pm Monday to Friday and anytime on Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays anywhere in England.
• However, Bristol has an extended scheme in place.  If your journey starts within Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset or South Gloucestershire you can use your Travelcard from 9am until 4am (following day) Monday to Friday and anytime on Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays.

How to apply

• Fill in the travelcard for disabled people application form (pdf, 0.6 MB)
• Send your completed application form along with a photo, proof of ID and residency, to your nearest customer service point.

Blind and partially sighted (All England Travel Card, known locally as the Platinum Card)

Who can apply for a card?

• Persons who are registered blind or partially sighted.

What travel is allowed?

• Free travel at anytime on journeys starting and finishing in Bristol, with a Platinum Travel Card.
• Free off-peak travel on local buses between 9.30am and 11pm Monday to Friday and anytime on Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays anywhere in England.
• However, Bristol has an extended scheme in place.  If your journey starts within Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset or South Gloucestershire you can use your Travelcard from 9am until 4am (following day) Monday to Friday and anytime on Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays.
• The Bristol and Bath Open Top City Tours are not included in the All England Travelcard scheme.

How to apply

• Fill in the travelcard for blind or partially sighted people application form (pdf, 0.6 MB)
• send your completed application form along with a photo, proof of ID and residency, to your nearest customer service point.

The application form is also available in different formats, for example large print , Braille, audiotape and computer disc. Contact us to get an application form in these formats.

Companion entitlement

If you are unable to travel on public transport for the whole journey without help from a companion, your card can include companion entitlement.

Conditions

• The applicant must be unable to walk to a bus stop, board and alight from a bus.
• We need written confirmation that you need a companion’s assistance to travel from a GP (General Practitioner) or hospital consultant.
• Free travel for the companion may not be available outside of Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Bath and North East Somerset and North Somerset). Please check with the area you are travelling in.
• It is not required that a companion accompanies the travelcard holder on every journey, but where the companion is travelling with the travelcard holder, it must be for the entire journey.

Contact us

Pre-printed application forms are available from:

• Any of the customer service points.
• Telephone 0117 922 2600.
• Email: public.transport@bristol.gov.uk (please put ‘Travelcard’ in the subject heading).
• Post: Travelcard Office, Bristol City Council, PO Box 375, Bristol, BS99 7GX.

Terms and conditions

Terms and conditions about using Travelcards. (pdf, 42 KB)

Travelcards expiring in 2012

If you have a Travelcard which is expiring in 2012 please see the information below on all types of travelcard and details of what is needed to get your new card.

Travelcard holders aged over 60

• If you have not moved house since you last applied or re-applied for a travelcard you do not need to take any action. A card will be sent to you automatically, at least five days before your existing card expires.
• If you have moved house since you last applied or re-applied and have not notified the Travelcard office then you must do so as soon as possible and send suitable proof of your new address.  If you have changed your address please download the form (pdf, 114 KB) and post to address at top right of page.

Disabled travelcard holders

Disabled travelcard holders whose travelcards expire in 2012 and who have qualified on grounds of disability will receive a letter from us at least eight weeks before your existing card expires, with a re-application form.  All disabled travelcard holders will need to:

• Send suitable evidence of their identity.
• Send evidence of their continued status as a permanent resident of Bristol.
• Send a new photograph.
• New medical evidence may be need, but you will be notified of this.

Replacement travelcards and change of address

Replacement of lost, damaged or defaced travelcards or change of name

There is a charge currently of £6.60 (Please note this cost is reviewed annually in April) to replace Travelcards that have been lost, damaged or defaced or required as a result of a change of name. If your card is lost or defaced you can now replace your travelcard using the online payment system, please note if you are paying using a credit card there will be an administration charge payable. To get a replacement Travelcard:

• Telephone 0117 922 2600 or
• Online Form for your replacement lost or defaced travelcard or
• Fill in the Replacement Travelcard form (pdf, 116 KB)

You can continue to pay for your lost or defaced card by cheque or postal order until 31st March 2012. From 1st April 2012 all payments will have to be made using either the online payment system or cash at a customer service point. 

Online payments

Payments for lost or defaced travelcards can now been made online. Please fill in the online form and complete the payment details when requested.

Cheque or postal order payments

Send your payment and replacement application form to address at top right of page.

Cash payments

If you are paying by cash please take your replacement travelcard form and payment to any customer service point (please do not send cash in the post).

Change of address

• Fill in the change of address form. (pdf, 114 KB)
• Post the completed form along with proof of residency, address top right of page.

Stolen travelcards

We will replace your travelcard free of charge if you:

• have been a victim of crime and your card has been stolen and
• you can provide us with a Crime Reference Number issued by the police.

If the crime was committed outside the UK, please provide a copy of the Crime Report.

• Fill in the Replacement Travelcard form (pdf, 116 KB).
• Please provide your Crime Reference Number and details of your name, address, date of birth, Travelcard Number and telephone number (optional).  Post to the Travelcard Office address.