Concessionary bus passes

If you have reached pension age or are eligible disabled you can travel free of charge on any local bus between 9:30am and 11pm on weekdays and at any time on weekends and bank holidays, using a concessionary bus pass.

Darlington has enhanced the national scheme and offers companion passes for those who require assistance to travel by bus within the Borough.

Who can apply?

• Those who are of the pensionable age, applicable to a woman (irrespective of whether you are male or female) - find out your pensionable age [external link]
• Those who meet the national criteria for Travel Disability as someone 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/she applied for the grant of a licence to drive a motor vehicle under Part lll of the Road Traffic Act 1988, have the application refused pursuant to section 92 of that Act (physical fitness) for example - on the grounds of epilepsy or a severe mental disorder. Persistent misuse of drugs or alcohol does not qualify you for a bus pass

How to apply

If you think you may be eligible for a concessionary bus pass, you can apply using our online system.

Apply for your bus pass online

Alternatively you can download and complete the relevant application from. Please send it to us with a current passport-sized photograph together with your proof of eligibility.

• bus pass application form (age) [pdf document]
• bus pass application form (disability) [pdf document]

I've lost my pass, what do I do?

If you think you lost your pass while using public transport, contact the appropriate operator. Call Traveline on 0871 200 22 33 if you are unsure which operator’s service you were on.

If the operator has not found your pass, you will need to contact customer services and request that a replacement pass is sent out to you. There is an administrative charge of £10 for the replacement pass. If your pass was stolen and you can provide a crime reference number, this charge will not apply.

My concessionary pass is a smart pass, how do I use it?

If you are travelling on Arriva, Go North East or Stagecoach follow these simple instructions:

• Place the card on the reader face up and keep it there until the ticket prints
• Remove you card and take your ticket
• Please don’t slide your card across the reader otherwise the machine won’t be able to read your card

If you are travelling on any other bus, just show your pass to the driver.

My smart concessionary pass does not work, what do I do?

If your pass doesn’t work on the reader you will need to contact the council who issued you with the pass.

If your pass doesn’t work because it has been reported lost or stolen to your issuing authority or if it has expired you will have to pay the normal full adult fare to travel.

If the problem has arisen because your pass is faulty, then the issuing authority will issue you with a replacement pass free of charge. You will still be allowed to travel but it is important that a replacement pass is ordered for you straight away.

You will keep the faulty pass until the replacement arrives. When your new pass is delivered, the old faulty pass will need to posted back to your issuing authority. The old pass can then be sent for testing to find out why it hasn’t worked.

If a faulty pass is repeatedly used over a period of time and the issuing authority has not been contacted for a replacement pass, then the faulty card will be hot-listed to prevent its further use.

If your pass doesn’t work and the bus driver tells you it needs to be changed, contact customer services on 01325 405222.

Remember, only the council that issued you with the faulty pass can order a replacement.

Information for bus operators

Statutory notice to bus operators [pdf document]