Public transport information

Increased mobility is a feature of modern life. Public modes of transport make a significant contribution to this, linking the major centres of economic activity by rail, coach and air, as well as providing transport at a local level by bus, light rail and taxi. Public transport information

The environmental benefits of free public transport are numerous:

reducing greenhouse gas emissions from transport
reducing other air pollutants
reducing noise pollution (especially with trams)
courier work
reducing run-off of toxic chemicals into fresh water supplies and ocean environments
reducing overall consumption of oil and petrol/diesel
reducing litter (train/bus tickets)
saving trees by eliminating the need to print tickets

Government has set targets to increase the use of rail and bus transport, making it more reliable and accessible. In order to develop public transport information policy and monitor progress towards targets, DfT surveys public transport providers and users at regular intervals, then publishes the results. The main publications appear annually or quarterly.

Rail services

Railway operators can impose a penalty fare on a passenger who travels transport for London without the correct ticket in some areas. This will be an on the spot penalty above the normal fare and is not a fine. If the fare you should have paid is £10.00 or less, the penalty will be £20.00. If the fare was over £10.00, the penalty fare will be double the fare.

You may want to appeal against a penalty fare if there was:

insufficient notice that you were travelling in a penalty fare area because, for example, signs were inadequate,
English is not your first language, or you were unable to read the notices because you are visually impaired
inadequate opportunity to buy a ticket to travel because, for example, there was a long queue at the ticket office and the ticket machine was not available, or you were unable to use a machine because of a physical disability.

Free bus travel

England

In England, you are entitled to free travel at off-peak times on buses anywhere in England if you are:

disabled, or
of state pensionable age or over.

If you're a woman, the state pensionable age is your pensionable age, and if you are a man, the state pensionable age is the state pensionable age of woman born on the same day as you.

If you have already reached the age of 60 or are due to do so before 6 April 2010, there will be no change. You will continue to be entitled to a bus pass. If you are about to become 60 before 6 April 2010 and you have not yet applied for a bus pass, you will still have the right to apply for a bus pass.

Off-peak times are between 9.30am and 11pm on weekdays and all day on the weekend and on bank holidays. In London, you can travel free on the buses and other public transport at any time, not just at off-peak times. For more information, go to: www.londoncouncils.org.uk.

Some bus services aren't included in free travel. These include intercity coaches, some park-and-ride buses, temporary rail replacement bus services and any services intended mainly for tourism.