It is a new scheme introduced by the government on 1 April 2008 giving all Senior Citizens and eligible people with a disability free travel, on bus only, between the hours of 9.30am to 11.00pm Monday to Friday and all day Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays anywhere in England. Please note that this concession does not include coach services.

If you are a resident of one of the seven districts of the West Midlands county (Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall or Wolverhampton), you will also be able to travel free on Ring & Ride and rail and Metro services within the Network West Midlands area until the end of daytime service.

Applying for your pass

I have not received an application form for a new pass how do I get one?

Please contact our helpline on 0845 303 6760. Our advisors will send one to you in the post.

I have never had a free pass how can I apply?

Apply in the normal way using one of our check & send facilities or click here to download an Application Form. To check your nearest check and send facility please click here.

I already have a free pass do I need a new one?

Yes, if you are over 60. The government is specifying a national pass design so that it is recognisable by bus drivers anywhere in the country. The new pass replaces your current pass. If you do not apply you will not be able to travel on buses nationally from 1 April 2008.

Why does the application form ask for my National Insurance number / telephone number? They are personal and I don’t wish to give them.

The N I number makes it easier for us to undertake data cleansing from time to time as it is a number unique to you. The telephone number makes it easier for us to contact you. We often have calls from the police to say a handbag or purse has been handed in with a pass in it and we can call you straight away and put your mind at rest. If you do not wish to give these then it does not mean that you won’t get your pass.

I have made a mistake filling in the form. Can I cross it out and amend it or do I have to have a new form?

Just cross it out and enter the correct information.

I have moved house since applying for my new National Travel Pass is this why I have not received it?

We will not have your new address if you have not told us about your move. Please contact our helpline on 0845 303 6760 to provide your amended details. Please remember to inform our advisors if you have made arrangements to redirect your mail and we just need to log your new address for our records. If you have told us about your move and you have not received your Travel Pass it is possible that it has not been registered on our system.

Using your pass

Will I still be able to use my pass on the train and Metro?

Yes, but only within the West Midlands County as you do now. This is an enhancement provided by West Midlands Passenger Transport Authority and will continue, but you will not be able to travel outside of the county free on train or tram.

Will I be able to travel to Blackpool etc free?

Theoretically you could, but you would have to do it hopping on and off local buses. This free pass does not cover coaches, like National Express. Where there is a bus service, for instance to Stratford or Tamworth, you will no longer have to pay from the boundary but can make the whole journey for free. And if you are on holiday anywhere in England you can travel on the bus in that area for free.

Will I still be able to use my old pass in the West Midlands after April 2008?

Yes. The old passes will be valid on buses until September 2008.

I have lost my pass how do I get a replacement?

Please contact Centro’s ticketing department on 0121 214 7878 who will be able to arrange for a replacement.

My new pass has an expiry date. Why is this and will I have to reapply?

All new Travel Passes have an expiry date as the Department for Transport has specified that all Travel Passes should be replaced periodically. Travel Passes in the West Midlands County will be replaced every 4-5 years. To stagger the work involved in providing these replacements, Travel Passes will have different expiry dates. It is quite possible that members of the same household will have Travel Passes that expire on different dates. Centro will contact you nearer the time regarding your replacement Travel Passes.

My name has been spelt incorrectly on my new pass - can I still use it?

Centro would like to apologise for any errors that might appear on your new national Concessionary Travel Pass. In excess of 400,000 Travel Passes are being issued and it possible that some errors may have occurred. There is no need to replace your Travel Pass in order to use it. Please contact the helpline on 0845 303 6760 to provide details of any amendments which will be included on your new Travel Pass which will be issued when your current Travel Pass expires.

I have received my Travel Pass but am unhappy with the photograph can I have it changed?

We will be unable to replace travel passes in the event of the holder being dissatisfied with the photograph. We are concentrating our efforts on ensuring that all eligible applicants receive an initial pass to ensure that they benefit from the new scheme

I have noticed my Travel Pass is different in appearance from others which have a different coloured stripe, why is this?

All Travel Passes have a common design apart from a coloured stripe of either blue or orange featured on the right hand side. An orange stripe denotes a Blind & Disabled Concessionary Travel Pass and a blue stripe indicates an Over 60s Travel Pass. Both Travel Pass types offer the same concession and are valid during the same times and on the same services and areas.

I am in receipt of a Concessionary Travel Pass of someone that has now deceased. What should I do?

Please return the Travel Pass to Centro with a covering note and we will arrange for the person’s details to be removed from our records.

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