How to use your concessionary travel pass

Information on how to use your concessionary travel pass, including when you can and can't use your pass.

Within Northumberland

For bus journeys starting in Northumberland, the council has extended the times when passes are valid as follows: 

• Holders of older people’s passes can travel all day from 9am on Mondays to Fridays (with no evening time restriction) and all day Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays. 
• Holders of older people’s bus passes can also travel before 9am on journeys boarding in Northumberland, if they have a hospital appointment letter proving they need to travel earlier. 
• Holders of disabled people’s and companion passes can travel free all day any day. 

Outside of Northumberland 

The ENCTS entitles pass holders to free travel on any off-peak local bus in England. If in doubt about which bus you can travel on, please contact your local operator.   

Off-peak travel

• 9:30am - 11pm from Monday to Friday 
• All day Saturday, Sunday, and bank holidays 

Metro trains

• You cannot use your concessionary pass on the Tyne and Wear Metro system. 
• Residents of Northumberland with a valid concessionary pass can purchase a Metro Gold Card, which allows free off-peak travel on the Metro system. 

Travelling to Scotland

• Holders of English passes are able to travel on parts of some cross-border routes from Northumberland. This is on the basis that the journey either starts or ends in England. 
• Northumberland County Council has agreed additional benefits for free travel in Scotland on the following bus services, where your journey will start or finish in England: 
  • 18, 260 - Berwick to Duns 
  • 60 - Berwick to Galashiels (via Duns) 
  • 67 - Berwick to Galashiels (via Kelso) 
  • 34, 235, 236, 253 - Berwick to Eyemouth 
  • 131 - Newcastle to Jedburgh 
• We have also agreed additional benefits on the following local bus services, where free travel is only available for journeys wholly in England: 
  • 710 - Newcastle to Coldstream/Kelso 
  • 32 - Berwick to Swinton 
  • 87 - Berwick to Kelso 

Travelling from Scotland: 

• Passes issued in Scotland are not generally available for use on buses in England. 
• The Scottish authority may offer travel in Northumberland on cross-border routes. 
• If you have a pass issued in Scotland, please contact your local authority for more details.