CONCESSIONARY TRAVEL IN THE EAST MIDLANDS

DERBYSHIRE
Derby City, Amber Valley, Bolsover, Chesterfield, Derbyshire Dales, North East Derbyshire, South Derbyshire, Erewash and High Peak

All of the county is covered by one scheme, known as "Gold Card".

Concessionary travel on buses is only within core hours.  On trains, half-price travel is available on local and cross-boundary trains at all times.

Travel on most community travel services is free.

The scheme also offers various non travel benefits.

For full details of the scheme go to this.

Note that Derbyshire Wayfarer tickets continue to be available at half price for all over 60’s, including non-residents.  These allow travel for one day on any bus in the county at any time and on trains after 9:00.  See here for more information.

LEICESTERSHIRE
Leicester City, Blaby, Charnwood, Harborough, Hinckley and Bosworth, North West Leicestershire, Melton, Oadby and Wigston

The situation is Leicestershire is not at all clear.  Previously, most districts were part of a county wide scheme, but it is not clear whether add-ons known to apply in some districts are available in all.  Clarification would be appreciated.

Half price bus travel before 09: 30 is thought to be available to all.  Free travel between 23:00 and midnight is available in Charnwood. 

Half fare remains available on trains in Charnwood, Harborough and Leicester city but not Melton.

The situation with community travel services is unknown.

LINCOLNSHIRE
Lincoln City, Boston, South Holland, North Kesteven, East Lindsey, West Lindsey

It is not known if South Kesteven has joined the County-wide scheme which included all other districts prior to April 2008. 

The following is taken from the East Lindsey website:
“Initially the County-wide scheme will operate to the limits set by the national programme. This will allow the full cost impact on Council Tax payers to be properly measured. Any changes or extension to the scheme to include additional hours can then be considered as part of a review scheduled to take place later this year.”

Passes are valid on “Call Connect” minibuses serving rural villages which require advance booking.

There are no discounts on trains in any district.

The Lincoln City website indicates that those unable to use normal bus services can receive tokens for taxis and dial-a-ride schemes.  It is not known if this is county wide.

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE
Daventry, East Northants and Wellingborough do not impose time restrictions for local journeys.

Kettering’s website does not make clear whether it has introduced a time restriction - their passes were valid all day before April.  They offer “leisure services” with their pass.

There are no discounts on trains in any district.

Most districts offer tokens to some categories of concessionaire.

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE
Nottingham City
No change to local benefits, which remain as free travel, on buses and the tram, except 7:30-9:30.  The updated web page does not say if this covers the whole area for which free travel was available under the old scheme, or just the city area.

No discounts on trains.  Pass holders are eligible for non-travel concessions.

Full details available here.

Ashfield, Bassetlaw, Broxtowe, Gedling, Mansfield, Newark and Sherwood, and Rushcliffe

County wide scheme.  In addition to free off –peak travel after 23:00, this offers half-price travel before 9:30, half-price travel on local trains at all times.  Half price travel includes cross-boundary travel.  On the tram, travel is free 09:30 – 16:00 and 18:00 – finish, half price at other times.

The updated web page does not refer to Community travel services, which used to be half price.

For full details of the scheme see here.

RUTLAND
Free travel is available for local journeys at any time.  Half fare is available on trains between Leicester and Peterborough.  

Go to here for more details.