Questions
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To ask Her Majesty's Government which border areas of Wales and England have reciprocal public transport free pass arrangements. [HL4059]
The Department for Transport does not keep comprehensive records of enhancements offered by local authorities beyond the statutory minimum of free off-peak bus travel throughout England for older and eligible disabled people. However, the department is aware of the following local authorities in England and Wales which offer free cross-border travel on selected services:
Authority Cross-border concession offered Wrexham County Borough Council Welsh concessionary bus passes will be valid for cross-border journeys into England provided that the journey is unbroken and starts or finishes in Wales. Wrexham County Borough Council has partnered with the Welsh Assembly Government to introduce free travel on the Welsh section of the Borderlands line, between Wrexham Central, Wrexham General, Gwersyllt and all stations to Hawarden Bridge. Torfaen County Borough Council Welsh concessionary bus passes will be valid for cross-border journeys into England provided that the journey is unbroken and starts or finishes in Wales. Cheshire County Council English bus passes issued by Cheshire County Council are valid for travel on bus services going into Wales provided the journey starts or finishes in Cheshire; for example concessionaires can travel from Runcorn or Widnes to Wrexham and return. However, if they then continued their journey within Wales they would have to pay full fare. Herefordshire Council English bus passes issued by Herefordshire Council are valid for free local bus travel between Herefordshire and places in Wales, provided that each bus journey starts or finishes in Herefordshire, or is between Presteigne and Knighton in Powys. Forest of Dean District Council English bus passes issued by Forest of Dean District Council can be used to travel across the border if the bus caught is a service that takes the concessionaire out of England. However, concessionaires will not be able to make any connecting journeys once in Wales using their English pass. It has been agreed that concessionaires will be able to make a return journey into England from Chepstow and Monmouth. South Gloucestershire Council English bus passes issued by South Gloucestershire Council can be used for journeys into Wales, from South Gloucestershire, on the X11 and X14 direct services to Newport and Chepstow. However the bus pass cannot be used for other services once in Wales. Shropshire The Shropshire Travel Concession Authorities have a reciprocal agreement with neighbouring Welsh Authorities to allow travel cross-border but only on journeys starting or finishing in the respective areas and to the first major conurbation. This is to enable those living in border areas access to their nearest local services which could be in the neighbouring country.
Asked by
To ask Her Majesty's Government which border areas of Scotland and England have reciprocal public transport free pass arrangements. [HL4060]
The Department for Transport does not keep comprehensive records of enhancements offered by local authorities beyond the statutory minimum of free off-peak bus travel throughout England for older and eligible disabled people. However, the department is aware of the following local authorities in England and Scotland which offer free cross-border travel on selected services:
Authority Cross-border concession offered Cumbria border districts —Allerdale—Copeland Free travel on local bus journeys starting or ending in Cumbria (may include cross-border journeys) —Carlisle Free travel on local bus journeys starting or ending in Carlisle Northumberland County Council For journeys across the border into Scotland, the bus operators may charge a fare for the part of the route outside England but the neighbouring Scottish authority may offer a concession for the whole journey. Transport Scotland Scottish National Entitlement Card may be used on services to and from Carlisle and on services to and from Berwick-upon-Tweed from anywhere in Scotland. Scottish pass holders are not entitled to free bus travel within Carlisle or Berwick-upon-Tweed.