Slough Borough Council

What are concessionary fares passes?

They are bus passes which enable holders to travel free on local buses within Slough and, as a result of the new National Bus Concession from 1 April 2008, throughout England.

If you are over 60 or are disabled, and are a Slough resident you can apply for a pass. If you are disabled and need someone to help you when travelling by bus, you can apply for a pass that allows a companion to travel with you for free as well on buses in Slough. 

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What is the new National Bus Concession?

Since 1 April 2006, eligible bus users have been guaranteed a minimum of free off-peak local bus travel within the local authority area in which they live.

From 1 April 2008, the new national bus concession will enable eligible users to get free off-peak travel on local buses anywhere in England.

Off peak hours are 9.30am until 11pm Monday to Friday, and all day weekends and bank holidays.

Also as a Slough Borough resident, your new pass means you are able to travel at any time on most buses boarded within the Slough Borough Council boundary and in some neighbouring authority areas. For more information please look at the are there any restrictions on using my pass question.

The new concession means the look of your bus pass will change. If you already hold a Slough Borough Council bus pass, your new pass will be sent to you automatically. Please help us make sure your pass gets to you by letting us know if your address or other details have changed.

If you don’t already hold a bus pass but will be eligible for one soon, please contact us on 01753 475111 or visit MyCouncil at Landmark Place, High Street, Slough.

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Are there any restrictions on using my pass?

Long Distance Bus and Coaches

Your bus pass cannot generally be used on express coach services, and is not valid on: 

• New Bharat and Thandi coaches between Southall, Slough, the West Midlands and West Yorkshire
• National Express: Southall – Slough - Birmingham
• Armchair: Taplow – Huntercombe Lane - London

You can travel on First’s routes 700, 701 or 702 services between Bracknell, Windsor, Slough and London. However, if you’re travelling to or from London, your pass is only valid if you board after 9.30am Mondays to Fridays (valid any time Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays).

Time Restrictions

There are no other time restrictions on using the pass if you board your bus within the Slough Borough Council boundary.

Also, there are currently no time restrictions if you board your bus with a Slough pass in Windsor & Maidenhead and Bracknell boroughs (except for the restriction on route 700/701/702 shown above).

You can get on a bus in Reading, Wokingham and West Berkshire boroughs with a Slough pass after 9am Mondays – Fridays (any time Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays). .

If you’re getting on a bus in London, you can get on a red London bus operated by Transport for London (for example, route 81 from Hounslow) after 9.00am Mondays to Fridays, and all-day Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays.

If you’re getting on a bus in London that is not run by Transport for London, you can only board after 9.30am Mondays to Fridays, any time Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays. This includes routes 58 and 459 from Uxbridge, routes 75 and 76 from Heathrow Central Bus Station and routes 60, 71, 77 and 78 from Heathrow Terminal 5.

Outside these areas, your bus pass will allow you to enjoy free travel on local buses anywhere in England during off peak hours, which are 9.30am until 11pm Monday to Friday, and all day weekends and bank holidays.

If you have a companion pass, your companion may travel with you for free at any time, but only if you get on the bus within the Slough Borough Council boundary. 

Please remember that bus routes may change at any time.  Please contact Traveline  on 0871 200 22 33 or visit the Traveline website for up to date information on bus times.

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How can I get a pass?

Call us on 01753 475111 or visit MyCouncil at Landmark Place, High Street, Slough for an application form.

You will then need to come to MyCouncil to process your application. Bus pass applications are taken between 10am and 12pm Monday to Friday.

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What documents will I need?

If you are applying for the first time, you must bring the following items with you:

• the application form, completed and signed 
• your passport or birth certificate (ladies should also bring their marriage certificate if applicable, medical card, driving licence or pension book) 
• proof of address within the borough of Slough eg council tax bill, or utilities bill (gas or electricity) dated within the last month

Remember – if you are 60 or over, you must bring proof of age as well as proof of address.

If you are disabled, you have to be in receipt of disability living allowance or a disability registration card which you must present to us. You can also provide bank statements indicating DLA payment.

Other important points are: 

• you cannot apply for a pass for someone else. The person who will be using the pass must visit to have their photograph taken
• a few days after your application, you will be supplied with a photo identification card and a wallet to keep the card in 
• you must show your pass each you get on a bus, without it you will have to pay the full fare

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I’m disabled, can I get a pass?

If you are disabled, you can get a pass. If you are disabled and need someone to help you when travelling by bus, you can apply for a pass that allows a companion to travel with you for free as well on buses in Slough. To find out if you’re eligible for a disabled pass, please see the what's the definition of being disabled, below.

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What’s the definition of being disabled?

According to the Transport Act 2000, a disabled person is a person who:

• is blind or partially sighted 
• is profoundly or severely deaf 
• is without speech 
• has a disability, or has suffered an injury, which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his ability to walk 
• does not have arms or has long-term loss of the use of both arms 
• has a learning disability, that is a state of arrested or incomplete development of mind which includes significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning
• would, if he applied for the grant of a licence to drive a motor vehicle under Part III of the Road Traffic Act 1988, have his application refused pursuant to section 92 of that Act (physical fitness) otherwise than on the ground of persistent misuse of drugs or alcohol

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What other terms and conditions apply?

• Use of the pass is subject to the terms and conditions of the scheme and to the conditions of carriage of the individual operator on whose vehicle the journey is being made
• The pass remains the property of Slough Borough Council and is not transferable. It may only be used by the named holder and may not be used by anyone else. Should its use be attempted by anyone who is clearly not the person in the photograph, the pass may be withdrawn
• The pass must be produced for inspection on each journey whether demanded or not
• Where vehicles are fitted with smartcard reading equipment, pass holders will need to place their pass on the smartcard reader until its validity is confirmed
• Where vehicles are not fitted with smartcard reading equipment, pass holders should continue to show their pass to the driver / other staff for visual inspection as required
• Pass holders must hand over their pass to transport company or Slough Borough Council staff (or their agents) for checking by portable smartcard readers or any other means if requested
• The pass is not valid if it is out of date, illegible, damaged or altered
• The pass is only valid for travel at the times, and on the services set out in the conditions of the scheme or in other notices, with an acknowledgement that services and timetables are subject to alteration
• If the pass holder changes their principal residence, they are required to surrender their pass to Slough Borough Council and apply for a new pass from the local authority where their new home is located
• Use of the pass gives no priority over other passengers

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