Providing information on the National Bus Pass and Travel
Vouchers Schemes within Mid Suffolk District
National Bus Pass Scheme
The Scheme was announced in the 2006 Budget by the Chancellor of
the Exchequer and replaces all existing local Schemes from 1 April
2008. The new pass allows free off-peak travel on local buses
anywhere in England for eligible people. Mid Suffolk pass
holders will have the additional benefits of being able to travel
at any time (24 hours a day, seven days a week) for journeys
starting in Suffolk, and of Key Card discounts. The new pass will
entitle holders to free off-peak travel (9.30am to 11pm) on local
bus services in England. Scheduled coach services are not
included (unless they are also registered as local services).
Press Release: Coach Fares Change
People with concessionary bus passes will not be
able to use them on Air Direct's X5 coach service from Ipswich to
Stansted Airport from 1 April 2009.
The decision comes following a change in the rules by Government
which means that Ministers will no longer reimburse the cost of
providing free concessionary bus travel on this service.
Concessionary bus passes may still be used on the Ipswich Park and
Ride Service (providing all members of the party have a bus pass)
but please check with Park and Ride services in other towns as
different rules may apply.
Who is eligible?
Permanent Mid Suffolk residents who are:
- Aged 60 or over;
- Disabled/blind; or
- Not permitted to drive or likely to be refused a driving
licence for medical reasons.
To apply for a card, or to request further information, you can
either contact our
Customer Service Centre, or request an
application form via Online Services listed below.
The pass is also valid for journeys with the Borderhoppa services
in the area adjacent to Diss, plus some of the services run in the
Stowmarket area by Optua.
Travel Vouchers
The aim of the voucher scheme is to provide an alternative to
the National Bus Pass for people who cannot use conventional public
transport services, either because of the severity of their
disability and/or because they live in a remote location where
there are limited bus services.
The scheme provides a "cash value" concession to certain groups
of people within the Mid Suffolk District subject to certain
eligibility criteria being met. Should you qualify, the value of
the vouchers for 2009 is £112. For more information or
details of the operators who accept these vouchers, please
telephone 01449 724673.
These vouchers are offered instead of, not in addition
to, the National Bus Pass.
From 2009 a Key Card will also automatically be issued to
Travel Voucher holders.
For an application form for the travel voucher scheme please either
click on the link below under online services or contact our
Customer Service
Centre.
Online services
For more information about concessionary fares and bus passes go
to Customer Service Direct - Concessionary fares
and bus passes
Download
a
BusPass/KeyCard Application Form.pdf
Download
a
VoucherScheme/KeyCard Application Form.pdf
For information about Senior Railcards visit:
Customer Service Direct - Senior
Railcard
For further information visit: Suffolk County Council - Transport
Services