Get an older person's travel pass

What is an Older Person's Travel Pass?

You can get a pass for free bus travel anywhere in England when you reach the state pension age. It does not matter if you’re a man or a woman. 

An Older Person's Travel Pass gives you free bus travel across England at the following times:  

• Monday to Friday: 9:30am to 11pm 
• Weekends and Public Holidays: All day 

Your pass also gives you free travel across bus, train and tram in the West Midlands at the following times: 

• Buses: 9:30am to 11:59pm 
• Trains in the Blue Zone: 9:30am to 11:59pm 
• Trams: 9:30am until the last service of the day 

If you live outside the West Midlands, contact your local authority to apply. 

Travelling before 9:30am

You will need to buy a ticket if you travel before 09:30am. 

On National Express West Midlands Buses, show your pass to the driver and ask for a single fare. For other operators, this option is also available, but the fare may vary. 

You can use your older person's pass to pay for travel before 09:30am. Sign in to your account to add money to your pass. 

If you don’t have an account, you will need to create an account first and register your pass. Select ‘Add a Swift card to my account’ under account options to register your card. 

Eligibility 

You can find out if you've reached the age for free bus travel on the GOV.UK website. 

If you have reached the age for free bus travel, you can get a West Midlands Older Person's Travel pass if you live in a property where council tax is paid to one of these councils: 

• Birmingham 
• Coventry 
• Dudley 
• Sandwell 
• Solihull 
• Walsall 
• Wolverhampton 

You can find out where your council tax is paid by using the GOV.UK postcode checker. 

How to apply 

Online application

Applying for your Older Person's Travel Pass online is the fastest method – it takes around 15 minutes.

When you've applied, you'll get status updates in your account, and reminders when it's time to renew.

You will need to sign in or create a Swift account first, and follow the steps below to apply:

1. Sign in to your account 
2. Go to your main menu options at the top of the screen 
3. Select ‘Your account’ 
4. Select ‘Apply for or manage discounts and free travel passes’  
5. Select ‘Older person’s pass’ 
6. Follow the on-screen instructions to apply for the older person’s pass  
7. Once your application is approved, the pass will be ready to use when it arrives in the post within 5 working days. 

Paper application

You can also apply for your Older Person's Travel Pass by post. Download the application form to print out and fill in, and then send the completed application to the address on the form. 

How to renew your travel pass

We will write to you one month before your pass is due to expire. There are two ways to renew your travel pass. 

Online 

If your pass is registered, you can sign in to your Swift account to renew your pass. Alternatively you can renew your pass using the online form. 

By post 

Complete the renewal form enclosed in your renewal letter and post this to the address on the letter. 

You should get your new pass before your current one expires. Contact us if you have not received it by then. 

How to update pass details or photo

If your name changes, you can update your personal details in your Swift account. If  you don’t have an account, fill in an enquiry form on our contact us page.

If you need to update the photo on your pass, you can do so by email or by post. 

It's important to note that updating your photo won't trigger an automatic card replacement. Your new card will be issued at the time of renewal. If you need a new card with the updated photo before then, you can contact us. A fee will apply. 

Make sure you provide all the information listed so that there are no delays to receiving your pass when it’s due for renewal.  

Update your photo by email 

Email the following details to customerservices@tfwm.org.uk:

• A new, passport‑style colour photo 

• Your full name 

• Your address 

• The 16‑digit number shown on the front of your travel pass 

Update your photo by post 

Send the following details by post: 

• A new, passport‑style colour photo- write your full name on the back of your photo 

• Your full name 

• Your address 

• The 16‑digit number shown on the front of your travel pass 

Please send everything to: 

If you need any help, assistance or have a question, you can contact us.