Slough Borough Council

At what age am I eligible for a bus pass?

The age of eligibility for a bus pass for:

• women is their pension age
• men is the pensionable age of a woman born on the same day

To find out the date of your entitlement check the table on our elderly and disabled bus pass page.

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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 lets 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 resident, your new pass means you are able to travel at any time on most buses boarded within the borough boundary and in some neighbouring authority areas. For more information please look at the 'are there any restrictions on using my pass' question below.

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What are concessionary fares passes?

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

You can apply for a pass if you:

• are of pensionable age or disabled and, 
• live in Slough.

Disabled applicants who may need someone to help them when travelling by bus, can apply for a pass that allows a companion to travel with them for free as well on buses in Slough.

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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 (medical card or driving licence) 
• 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 of a pensionable age, you must bring proof of age as well as proof of address. Check the table on our elderly and disabled bus pass page to find when your date of entitlement is.

If you are disabled, you will automatically qualify if you are in receipt of:

• a higher rate of the mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance or,
• war pensioner's mobility supplement or,
• have a disability registration card (which you must present to us).

We will need proof of identity and a current Department of Works and pensions (DWP) award letter.

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
• you must show your pass each time you get on a bus, without it you will have to pay the full fare

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Are there any restrictions on using my pass?

Long Distance Bus and Coaches

Your bus pass can't 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.

If you’re travelling to or from London, your pass is only valid if you board after 9am, Mondays to Fridays. It is valid any time on 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 boundary.

Windsor & Maidenhead and Bracknell boroughs

Also, there are 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).

Reading, Wokingham and West Berkshire boroughs

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

London

In Greater London, your bus pass will be valid for use at any time on the Transport for London (TFL) buses.

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 583 from Uxbridge, routes 75 and 76 from Heathrow Central Bus Station and routes 60, 71, 77 and 78 from Heathrow Terminal 5.

Other areas

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.

Companion pass

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 boundary. If you board a bus outside of Slough your companion will have to pay their fare.

Bus routes

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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What other terms and conditions apply?

Please note:

• 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
• you can only use your bus pass on bus services, it can't be used on any rail, taxi or London Underground services

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What do I do if my bus pass gets lost/stolen?

If it's been stolen you must report it to the police. They will give you a reference number which you need to give us.

If your pass has been lost we will only need you to report this to us and provide proof of your identity and address when you visit to get your new bus pass ordered. Please come between 10am and 12 noon, Monday to Friday.

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How long will I have to wait to get my bus pass?

Once we have processed your application your bus pass will be sent to your home within 7 working days.

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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 on buses in Slough. A companion pass is however, only awarded to disabled residents who are in receipt of the mid rate or higher rate care component of Disability Living Allowance or are registered with the Mental Health Team and able to give a supporting letter from their social worker confirming the need for a companion pass.

To find out if you’re eligible for a disabled pass, please refer to the 'What's the definition of being disabled?' FAQ 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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