London’s over-60s free bus and train travel should be available ‘around the country’ according to an MP. In a new written question Tory Nick Timothy asked Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander if people who benefit from the London free travel scheme could use it elsewhere in the country.
Currently those 60 or over and live in a London borough, can get free travel on transport services with an Oyster photocard. Unlike most of the rest of England, they get free travel on bus, Tube, tram, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth line (excluding between West Drayton and Reading) and most National Rail services in London
They can travel free on TfL services anytime Monday to Friday, except between 04:30 and 09:00, and can travel free anytime at weekends and on bank holidays. In the rest of England, people over the age of 66 can only get free travel, except on Merseyside.
This is because it is down to local authorities, many of which are struggling with budget issues, have to decide to fund the earlier provision – meaning in general in England people only get the pass at 66. However in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland the devolved administrations have decided to fund free bus travel from the age of 60.
Mr Timothy asked Ms Alexander: “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.”
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport Simon Lightwood said it was down to local authorities to make the decision to allow free travel earlier. He said: “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.
“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.
“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.”
A huge petition about free travel for all over 60s in England has just closed on the Parliament website – with more than 100,000 signatures. This means that it should be debated by MPs which could more pressure on the Department for Transport (DfT) to lay out its position, and also specifically answer the questions raised. A date has not been set but is expected to be announced imminently.
The petition says: “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.”
To read the full extensive DfT response click here.
