Cross nation bus pass validity question

[175mph]

Since a Scottish bus pass cannot be used in England or vice versa, what's the policy if say for example someone in England uses their bus pass on a bus service starting at a location in England and the service crosses the border into Scotland? Would they be allowed to stay on the bus over the border into Scotland but unable to use their bus pass on the return service or any other bus at their destination or would the driver stop at the final stop before crossing the border into Scotland and ask the passenger to either pay a fare from that stop onwards or alight the bus?

Also, what's the policy for people with bus passes in Scotland crossing the border by bus into England?

 

[PeterC]

These things seem to be arranged on a route by route basis and are not always well documented.

The English - Welsh border is even more complicated as there are places where it zig-zags across a bus route. For example the Gloucestershire village of Redbrook is only accessible by public transport from Wales using Phil Onslow route 69. I haven't found anything documented about cross border acceptance, which I would like to know as I am planning a weekend in the Wye Valley next year and don't want to spend it all behind the wheel.

 

[overthewater]

The Scottish passes are allowed to Carlisle on x95 or 79?, Berwick upon tweed on the 67,69, 253. Its possible to go to Newcastle on the once a week service from the Borders I think 710?

England is a bit different but you can cross the Border:

https://www.northumberland.gov.uk/Highways/Public-transport/Concessions.aspx?

Northumberland County Council has agreed additional benefits for free travel in Scotland on the following local bus services, where your journey either starts or finishes in England:

• 18, 260 - Berwick to Duns
• 60 - Berwick to Galashiels via Duns
• 67 - Berwick to Galashiels via Kelso
• 34, 235, 236, 253 - Berwick to Eyemouth
• 131 - Newcastle to Jedburgh

On the following local bus services, free travel is only available for journeys wholly in England:

• 710 - Newcastle to Coldstream/Kelso
• 32 - Berwick to Swinton
• 87 - Berwick to Kelso

These details are also shown in the guidance notes.

Cumbria council, are just meaner...

The Scheme will apply to all eligible journeys starting within the administrative areas of Cumbria County Council and to journeys to and from the following in Scotland; Gretna on routes 79, 179 and 382, Canonbie on route X95 and Under Burnmouth (for Kershopefoot) on route 127A.

 

[Mwanesh]

In England and Wales it depends with the local arrangement. The Severn Xpress from Newport to Bristol accepts Welsh passes if you are starting and finishing your journey back in Wales or vice versa. The Stagecoach X3 also works the same way between Cardiff and Hereford.

 

[busesintheuk]

The information on the Northumberland County Council website is out of date and incorrect. Borders Buses now accept English ENCTS passes (issued by any English council) for the entire length of all of their routes all the way in to Scotland as long as you either board or alight in England. So you can use your English ENCTS passes all the way to and from Edinburgh on the 253 as long as you board or alight in England. Journeys entirely within Scotland are not allowed. But you can certainly travel to and from Edinburgh with it.

 

[Martin2012]

Am sure that English passes can be used on the Severn Express from Bristol to Newport and vice versa but aren't the Welsh ones valid anytime whereas English ones only from 0900?

 

[DunsBus]

The Scottish passes are allowed to Carlisle on x95 or 79?, Berwick upon tweed on the 67,69, 253. Its possible to go to Newcastle on the once a week service from the Borders I think 710?

England is a bit different but you can cross the Border:

https://www.northumberland.gov.uk/Highways/Public-transport/Concessions.aspx?

Northumberland County Council has agreed additional benefits for free travel in Scotland on the following local bus services, where your journey either starts or finishes in England:

• 18, 260 - Berwick to Duns
• 60 - Berwick to Galashiels via Duns
• 67 - Berwick to Galashiels via Kelso
• 34, 235, 236, 253 - Berwick to Eyemouth
• 131 - Newcastle to Jedburgh

On the following local bus services, free travel is only available for journeys wholly in England:

• 710 - Newcastle to Coldstream/Kelso
• 32 - Berwick to Swinton
• 87 - Berwick to Kelso

These details are also shown in the guidance notes.

Cumbria council, are just meaner...

The Scheme will apply to all eligible journeys starting within the administrative areas of Cumbria County Council and to journeys to and from the following in Scotland; Gretna on routes 79, 179 and 382, Canonbie on route X95 and Under Burnmouth (for Kershopefoot) on route 127A.

Scottish passes aren't valid on the 710 south of Coldstream. They however are valid on the 131 all the way to Newcastle.

 

[Statto]

These things seem to be arranged on a route by route basis and are not always well documented.

The English - Welsh border is even more complicated as there are places where it zig-zags across a bus route. For example the Gloucestershire village of Redbrook is only accessible by public transport from Wales using Phil Onslow route 69. I haven't found anything documented about cross border acceptance, which I would like to know as I am planning a weekend in the Wye Valley next year and don't want to spend it all behind the wheel.

Mentioning the English/Welsh border, brings up another complication, Saltney, Saltney is a suburb of Chester[couple of miles from the City Centre] but half of it is in Flintshire, Wales, are those living in the Welsh half with Welsh issued passes allowed to use them on buses into Chester City Centre?