Bus Passes

From 1 April 2011 there will be changes to how and when you can use concessionary travel passes.   This is the result of reduced central government funding.

Responsibility for the scheme will transfer from district councils to Norfolk County Council and all pass holder data will therefore also transfer to Norfolk County Council, in strict accordance with the Data Protection Act.

If you already have a bus pass, you don’t need to change it – you can continue to use it under the new arrangements.

In person from North Norfolk District Council at the Cromer or Fakenham (Fakenham Connect) offices.

A charge of £7 per application will be made (card payment only).  This charge will include taking a photograph, checking documentation to prove eligibility, age or disability, completing an application and processing the pass all at the same visit – the pass will then be received within 7-10 days of eligibility date.

On-line via Norfolk County Council’s web-site
Complete an on-line application form and upload a recent passport-style photograph.
A check of eligibility will be completed via Experian. Once an application is confirmed your pass will be processed and will then be received within 7-10 days.

On-line application for disabled passes is under development

By post to Norfolk County Council
Application form, which can be downloaded from the internet or obtained from Norfolk County Council. Telephone 0344 800 8020.

A completed application together with a recent passport-style photograph, copies of proof of eligibility, age or disability. Once an application has been received and processed you will receive a pass within 7 – 10 days of eligibility date.

Travel before 9:30
From Monday to Friday, free bus travel will start from 9:30 and end at 23:00.  Concessionary passes may be accepted in some rural areas where the only service of the day starts before 9:30. A full list of these services is available on the County Council web-site.   (Link)

Travel will continue to be free for pass holders all day at weekends and bank holidays

Park and Ride Services
Holders of English national concessionary travel passes will pay normal fare up to 9:30 on Monday to Friday.  A fare of £1 return per person will apply after 9:30 and at all times on Saturdays. 

Companion passes
Some passes (marked with ‘+C’) show that a companion can travel free.  However from
1 April the companion will have to pay the normal fare.  We will not re-issue your pass, but the driver will ask for the normal fare from your companion.

Pass holders who are registered Blind
Free travel will no longer be available all day every day – registered blind pass holders will receive free travel according to the same criteria as other pass holders.

Lost or Stolen Passes
A replacement pass will cost £10, payable in advance. The fee is not refundable should the lost pass be found at a later date. Please pay for your pass either:

• in person (card payments only) at North Norfolk District Council offices at Cromer or Fakenham (Fakenham Connect).  
• Norfolk County Council Website
• Call Norfolk County Council Customer Service Centre on 0344 800 8020

You can apply for a concessionary travel pass if you are a permanent resident of Norfolk and are either:

• eligible under the age criteria or
• eligible under the disability criteria

Age criteria
As the pensionable age for women gradually increases from 60 to 65 so too will the age of eligibility for the concessionary travel pass increase for both men and women.   This means that by 2020 the age of eligibility will increase to 65.

This rise will be staged over the next 10 years and the eligibility for bus passes will rise by two months each month, meaning that people who turn 60 now will no longer be eligible for a free bus pass on their 60th birthday.   Details on when people will become eligible are shown below.