English National Bus Pass - Issued free of Charge
Cheshire West and Chester Council along with Cheshire East, Halton Borough Council and Warrington Borough Council have formed a consortium in order to provide their residents with the English National Concessionary Bus Pass and arrange with local bus companies to provide the concession. In addition to the statutory scheme they are also able to offer local enhancements to residents of all partner Councils.
Holders of an English National Concessionary Bus Pass issued by the Cheshire Consortium are entitled to the following concessions:
On journeys starting in Cheshire West and Chester or Cheshire East:
- Monday - Friday before 9.30am: half fare
- Monday - Friday between 9.30am - last bus: free fare
- Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday: free fare
These same concessions apply to Dial a Ride services in Cheshire West and Chester and Cheshire East, Chester Park and Ride services and journeys on bus services going into Wales providing the journey starts or ends in Cheshire West and Chester, Cheshire East.
On journeys starting in Halton or Warrington:
- Monday - Friday between 9.30am - last bus: free fare
- Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday: free fare
In the rest of England:
- Monday - Friday between 9.30am - 11pm: free fare
- Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday: free fare
Unless advised otherwise locally full adult fare will be applicable.
Exclusions
The English National Concessionary Bus Pass issued by the Cheshire Consortium is not valid for use on:
- Bus services on which the majority of seats can be reserved in advance of travel (such as coaches)
- Bus services that are intended to run for a period of less than six consecutive weeks
- Bus services operated primarily for the purposes of tourism or because of the historical interest of the vehicle
- Bus substitution (rail replacements) services
- Bus services where the fare charged by the operator has a special amenity element
- Tours, excursions and sightseeing buses
- Express bus services such as national express
- Night buses
- Trains, trams, ferries, metrolink or underground.
Available to
Permanent residents of Cheshire West and Chester who:
- are blind or partially sighted;
- are profoundly or severely deaf;
- are without speech;
- have a disability, or have suffered an injury, which has a substantial and long-term effect on your ability to walk;
- do not have arms or have long-term loss of the use of both arms;
- have a learning disability - a state of arrested or incomplete development of mind which includes significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning;
- would, if you applied for a licence to drive a motor vehicle under Part III of the Road Traffic Act 1988, have your application refused under section 92 of the Act (physical fitness) on grounds other than persistent misuse of drugs or alcohol.
or
- are of eligible age
Both men and women qualify for a concessionary bus pass at the same age, therefore, please refer to the table below to check when you become eligible and when you should submit your application.
If you were born before 6 March 1951 you already qualify for a bus pass and can apply at any time if you have not already done so.
| Born Between | Date Eligible | Applications Accepted From |
| Before 5 May 1951 | Already eligible | Anytime |
| 6 May 1951 - 5 June 1951 | 6 July 2012 | 22 June 2012 |
| 6 June 1951 - 5 July 1951 | 6 September 2012 | 23 August 2012 |
| 6 July 1951 - 5 August 1951 | 6 November 2012 | 23 October 2012 |
| 6 August 1951 - 5 September 1951 | 6 January 2012 | 23 December 2012 |
Copies of the full table can be requested by calling 0300 123 7025.
How to Apply
You can apply in person at any Council office listed on our Concessionary Travel Homepage.
Applications can be obtained by calling 0300 123 7025, emailing concessionarytravel@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk or by downloading an application:
At the time of application you will be required to provide:
- Proof of residence
- Proof of age/identity
- For disabled persons - proof of disability - acceptable forms of evidence are detailed on the application form.
- One passport size and quality photograph
Your bus pass will be valid for a maximum of five years. All bus passes will be issued by post direct to your home address usually within 10 working days of receipt of your application.
Replacement Bus Passes
If your bus pass has been lost or stolen a replacement can be issued on receipt of a completed application form available from any Council office listed on our Concessionary Travel Homepage or by postal application obtainable by calling 0300 123 7025, by email concessionarytravel@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk or by downloading an application form below and returning to Concessionary Travel, Cheshire West and Chester Council, Wyvern House, The Drumber, Winsford, Cheshire, CW7 1AH.
The charge for a replacement bus pass is £10. Stolen passes will be replaced free of charge on production of a completed replacement application form and a copy of the reported crime letter issued by the Police.
If your original pass is found after the issue of your replacement you must return the original pass to the Council for secure disposal.
Renewal of a expiring bus pass
If your bus pass is due to expire you will receive a letter to your home address approximately four to six weeks before your pass is due to expire, the letter will contain details on how you can renew your pass, options will vary depending on pass type and the existing information we hold.
If you have received a letter with a unique renewal code and are in possession of your current bus pass then the quickest way to renew is online otherwise please follow the instructions within your letter.
Visitors
If you are visiting Cheshire West and Chester and have an ENCTS pass issued by another English authority you will be entitled to the following concessions on local bus services:
- Monday - Friday between 9.30am - last bus: free fare
- Saturday, Sunday or Bank Holiday: free fare
Visitors can also obtain the same concessions when travelling on the Chester Park and Ride services; however other local enhancements such as the pre 9:30am discounts and travel into Wales are only available to residents.
Further information
Cheshire West and Chester Council has a duty to protect the public funds it administers, for further information visit the privacy notice page.
Please note: Fees and charges are correct at time of writing and may be subject to change.