Bus passes - concessionary travel

All England Travelcards

There are three categories of All England Travel Cards:

• 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?

• 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, 40 KB) (opens new window).

What travel is allowed?

Journeys starting within Bristol, BANES, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire

You can use your Travelcard from 9am until 4am (following day) Monday to Friday and anytime on Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays.

Journeys starting anywhere in England

Free off-peak travel on local buses between 9.30am and 11pm Monday to Friday and anytime on Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays.

Please Note: The Bristol and Bath Open Top City Tours are not included in the All England Travelcard scheme.

How to apply

• Fill in the application form for the over 60s travelcard. (pdf, 1.7 MB) (opens new window)
• 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 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

Veterans and service personnel

Any veterans or service personnel awarded a lump sum under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) in tariffs 1-8 and who fall into any of the above categories can apply. You will need to complete the disabled persons application form and submit this with your 'Reasons for Decision' letter.

What travel is allowed?

Journeys starting within Bristol, BANES, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire

You can use your Travelcard from 9am until 4am (following day) Monday to Friday and anytime on Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays.

Journeys starting anywhere in England

Free off-peak travel on local buses between 9.30am and 11pm Monday to Friday and anytime on Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays.

Please Note: The Bristol and Bath Open Top City Tours are not included in the All England Travelcard scheme.

How to apply

• Fill in the application form for a disabled people travelcard (pdf, 1.8 MB) (opens new window)
• 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?

Journeys starting within Bristol

Free Travel at anytime on journeys starting and finishing in Bristol.

Journeys starting within Bristol, BANES, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire

You can use your Travelcard from 9am until 4am (following day) Monday to Friday and anytime on Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays.

Journeys starting anywhere in England

Free off-peak travel on local buses between 9.30am and 11pm Monday to Friday and anytime on Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays.

Please Note: The Bristol and Bath Open Top City Tours are not included in the All England Travelcard scheme.

How to apply

• Fill in the application form for the blind or partially sighted travelcard (pdf, 0.6 MB) (opens new window)
• 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.

Using your Travelcard on Community Transport

You are able to use your concessionary travelcard on community transport services within Bristol, providing that:

• You are a registered member of the community transport provider.
• You have booked your journey through the relevant community transport provider.

Please Note: You cannot use your concessionary travelcard for group travel.

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: passenger.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, 43 KB) (opens new window)

Travelcards expiring in 2013

If you have a Travelcard which is expiring in 2013 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) (opens new window) and post to address at top right of page.

Disabled travelcard holders

Disabled travelcard holders whose travelcards expire in 2013 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 needed, 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 £7.00 (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 Stolen Replacement Travelcard form (pdf, 48 KB) (opens new window) or the Lost/Damaged Replacement Travelcard form (pdf, 50 KB) (opens new window)

Please Note:

• All payments now have to be made using either the online payment system or via cash at a customer service point.
• If you subsequently find your travelcard after a payment has been made a refund cannot be given. Please check carefully before submitting your request for a replacement travelcard.

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.

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) (opens new window)
• 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, 48 KB) (opens new window).
• 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.