People aged 60 and over

• Is bus travel free for people who are aged over 60?

  Yes, if you have a Concessionary Travel Pass, you can travel free of charge in Tyne and Wear from 9.30am Monday-Friday and all day at weekends and on public holidays. You can also travel free anywhere else in England on local buses, between 9.30am and 11.00pm Monday to Friday and all day at weekends and on public holidays.

• What about Metro?

  Travel on Metro from 9.30am Monday-Friday and all day at weekends and on public holidays is just £12 for a whole year but only if you have a Metro Gold Card. There are no discounted fares for Concessionary Travel Pass holders. To apply for your Metro Gold Card just download an application form.

• How about the Shields Ferry?

  A trip on the ferry from 9.30am Monday-Friday, all day at weekends and on public holidays is 50p when you show your Concessionary Travel Pass.

• What about Northern Rail services between Newcastle and Sunderland?

  Travel on this Northern Rail service from 9.30am Monday-Friday and all day at weekends and on public holidays is only free with the Metro Gold Card. There is no discounted fare on this Northern Rail service without the Metro Gold Card.

• Is it the same for Northern Rail services between Newcastle and MetroCentre/Blaydon?

  No, travel on this Northern Rail service from 9.30am Monday-Friday, all day at weekends and on public holidays is 50p with your Concessionary Travel Pass.

• Can I travel free of charge to early morning hospital appointments?

  Yes, if you need to travel before 9.30am in order to get to a hospital appointment, just show your hospital appointment card or letter with your CT Pass or Metro Gold Card when requested.

All CT Passes and Metro Gold Cards are issued by post.

Please note that if you want a Metro Gold Card, and you do not already have a CT Pass, you will have to apply for one at the same time.

You have a choice of how to apply for your pass - either by post or in a TravelShop. If you apply by post, please send us photocopies of your proof of address, not the originals (Nexus accepts no responsibility if original documents are sent).

Send your application to:

Concessionary Travel Bureau
Nexus
Grainger Chambers
3-5 Hood Street
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 6JQ

Special envelopes addressed to Nexus are available in Nexus TravelShops for you to use to send your application to us.

However, if you choose to drop your application into a TravelShop, you can take originals of your proof of address. The TravelShop staff will check it and hand it straight back to you. They will then send your application to our Concessionary Travel Bureau for your pass to be issued. Most TravelShops also take passport photos for £3.

Your CT Pass and/or Metro Gold Card will be posted out to you within five working days of us receiving your application. You will also be sent full details of how, where and when to use your new pass.

If you are 59, you can apply for your pass 1 month before your next birthday to ensure you have it ready to use as soon as you reach 60.

You will need to send us the following:

• Completed application form
• A colour passport photo (please write your name on the back)
• Proof of your age
• Proof that your permanent address is in Tyne and Wear
• A stamped self-addressed envelope
• £12 – if you are applying for a Metro Gold Card (by cheque or postal order made payable to Nexus if applying by post, cash if via a TravelShop)

The following documents are acceptable as proof (one for age, another for address):

• Proof of age – passport, driving licence, birth certificate
• Proof of address – council tax bill, gas bill, electricity bill, phone bill

If you think you lost your pass while using public transport, please 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 complete a new application form. A replacement Concessionary Travel Pass or Metro Gold Card cost £3 each.

You will need to send us the following:

• Completed application form
• A stamped self-addressed envelope
• £3 if you have lost your Concessionary Travel Pass or Metro Gold Card, £6 if you have lost both your Concessionary Travel Pass and Metro Gold Card (cheque or postal order made payable to Nexus if posting, cash can be paid at any TravelShop)

You can renew your pass during the month that it runs out or in the month before that. You will need to complete a new application form. There is no charge for renewing your Concessionary Travel Pass. You do not need to send in your current or expired CT Pass when you renew it.

You will need to send us the following:

• Completed application form
• A stamped self-addressed envelope

On buses – show the driver your pass when you board the bus after 9.30am Monday-Friday, all day at weekends and on public holidays. You must pay the full adult fare before 9.30am Monday-Friday

On the Shields Ferry – show the ferry operator your pass to buy your 50p ticket from 9.30am Monday-Friday, all day at weekends and on public holidays. You must pay the full adult fare before 9.30am Monday-Friday.

On Northern Rail services between Newcastle and MetroCentre/Blaydon – from 9.30am Monday-Friday, all day at weekends and on public holidays, either buy your 50p ticket from a ticket machine or buy it from the conductor; you will need to show the conductor your pass. You must pay the full adult fare before 9.30am Monday-Friday.

On all Metro services and Northern Rail services between Newcastle and Sunderland, if you do not have a Metro Gold Card, you must pay the full adult fare at all times.

On Metro – show an inspector your Metro Gold Card when requested, from 9.30am Monday-Friday and all day at weekends and on public holidays. You must pay the full adult fare at all other times.

On Northern Rail services between Newcastle and Sunderland – from 9.30am Monday-Friday and all day at weekends and on public holidays, show the conductor your Metro Gold Card. You must pay the full adult fare at all other times.