A Freedom of Information request to Transport for London (TfL) reveals that London Buses accept certain non-TfL tickets and concessionary companion passes for bus routes that are usually outside the Greater London boundary. Unfortunately, TfL does not publicise this on their Bus and Tram fares page. There’s also no information regarding the use of English National Concessionary Companion Passes on the free and discounted travel page on the TfL website.
I’ve even checked TfL’s Conditions of Carriage and there’s nothing about the use of other tickets for London’s Buses. They do reference the use of English National Concessionary Companion Passes though, as the text says: “Holders of English National Concessionary Bus Pass Companion cards can only travel free in Greater London if their journey started outside Greater London. Can only be used by the person whose name and photograph appears on the Pass.”
And according to the Big Red Book (guidance for London Bus Drivers), it says:
• Some TfL bus services that operate beyond Greater London to Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent and Surrey may offer additional features, such as free travel for companions. Drivers on these routes should check their route information sheets for further details
• Companions do not get free travel for journeys that start and finish within Greater London
TfL has recently confirmed that version 5 is the latest edition of the Big Red Book.
I’ve decided to compile a list of routes accepting non-TfL tickets and English National Concessionary Companion Passes from the documents obtained by a Freedom of Information request.
These are the texts from the documents:
Routes serving the Brentwood area
English National Concessionary Companions Passes
Brentwood Borough Council issued passes with 'C+' on them allow a companion (travelling with the pass holder) to travel free on any journey that starts within the points shown below. Not valid for any journey that starts in Greater London.
Route - Between
498 - Brentwood Sainsburys & Harold Park, Petersfield Ave
608 - Shenfield High School & Harold Wood, Petersfield Ave
Essex Saver Ticket
Essex Saver Tickets are accepted at anytime (except Sunday) on the routes listed above, for a journey that starts or finishes between the points shown above.
Routes serving the Dartford area
English National Concessionary Companions Passes
Dartford Borough Council issued passes with 'C+' on them allow a companion (travelling with the pass holder) to travel free on any journey that starts within the points shown below. Not valid for any journey that starts in Greater London.
Route - Between
96 - Crayford, Heath Road & Bluewater Shopping Centre
428 - Crayford, Heath Road & Bluewater Shopping Centre
492 - Station Rd, Chastillian Rd & Bluewater Shopping Cent.
601 - Dartford Rd, Baldwyn’s Pk & Dartford Hth, Parson’s La.
B12 - Dartford Rd, Baldwyn’s Park & Old Bexley Lane via Joyden’s Wood
Routes serving the Epping area
English National Concessionary Companions Passes
Epping Forest District Council issued passes with 'C+' on them allow a companion (travelling with the pass holder) to travel free on any journey that starts within the points shown below. Not valid for any journey that starts in Greater London.
Route - Between
20 - Knighton Lane & Debden Broadway, Burton Road
150 - Brockett Way, Letter Box & Chigwell Row, Maypole
167 - Tudor Crescent & Debden Broadway, Torrington Drive
215 - Lee Valley Campsite only
275 - Tomswood Road, Manor Road & Wannock Gardens
375 - Liberty Cottages & Passingford Bridge
397 - Knighton Lane & Debden Broadway, Burton Road
462 - Tudor Crescent & Grange Hill Station
549 - Roding Valley, Monkham’s Inn & Loughton Station
667 - Tudor Crescent & West Hatch High School
Essex Saver Ticket
Essex Saver Tickets are accepted at anytime (except Sunday) on the routes listed above, for a journey that starts or finishes between the points shown above.
Routes serving the Heathrow area
National Rail tickets
Routes 285/N285 & 490: National Rail issued tickets to/from Heathrow Bus are accepted for a single journey on these routes between Feltham Station and Heathrow Central Bus Station only.
Route 350: National Rail issued tickets to/from Stockley Park Bus are accepted for a single journey on this route between West Drayton Stn and Stockley Park Estate or Hayes & Harlington Stn and Stockley Park Estate only: not for intermediate stops.
Routes serving Hertfordshire from Watford/Borehamwood
English National Concessionary Companions Passes
Hertfordshire County Council issued passes with 'C+' on them allow a companion (travelling with the pass holder) to travel free on any journey that starts within the points shown below. Not valid for any journey that starts in Greater London.
Route - Between
107 - Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital & Stirling Corner, Barnet Lane
142 - Watford Junction Station & Stanmore Common, Heathbourne Rd
258 - Watford Junction Station & Harrow Weald Common
292 - Borehamwood, Rossington Avenue & Stirling Corner, Barnet Lane
626 - Dame Alice Owen Sch & Hadley Highstone Memorial
692 - Dame Alice Owen Sch & Stagg Hill, Slopers Pond Farm
699 - Dame Alice Owen Sch & Stagg Hill, Slopers Pond Farm
Routes serving Potters Bar and Potters Bar PlusBus
English National Concessionary Companions Passes
Hertfordshire County Council issued passes with 'C+' on them allow a companion (travelling with the pass holder) to travel free on any journey that starts within the points shown below. Not valid for any journey that starts in Greater London.
Route - Between
298 - Stagg Hill, Slopers Pond Farm & Potters Bar Station
313 - The Ridgeway, New Farm Cottage & Potters Bar Station, Dame Alice Owen School
Potters Bar PLUSBUS
Single/Day Return/Period tickets are accepted at any time on the routes listed above, for a journey that starts or finishes between the points shown above.
Routes serving the Sevenoaks area
English National Concessionary Companions Passes
Sevenoaks District Council-issued passes with 'C+' on them allow a companion (travelling with the pass holder) to travel free on any journey that starts within the points shown below. Not valid for any journey that starts in Greater London.
Route - Between
233 - Upper Ruxley, Hillside Nursery & Swanley, Beechanlea Lane
246 - Westerham Heights, Hawleys Corner & Westerham The Green or Chartwell House
R5 - Pratts Bottom Primary School & Cudham, Blacksmiths Arms
R10 - Pratts Bottom Primary School & Cudham, Blacksmiths Arms
Routes serving the Slough area
English National Concessionary Companions Passes
Slough Borough Council issued passes with 'C+' on them allow a companion (travelling with the pass holder) to travel free on any journey that starts within the points shown below. Not valid for any journey that starts in Greater London.
Route - Between
81 - Gallymead Road & Slough Bus Station
Routes serving Surrey from Croydon/Sutton
English National Concessionary Companions Passes
Surrey County Council issued passes with 'C+' on them allow a companion (travelling with the pass holder) to travel free on any journey that starts within the points shown below. Not valid for any journey that starts in Greater London.
Route - Between
166 - Chipstead Valley, Rectory Lane & Epsom General Hospital.
403 - Hamsey Green & Warlingham Sainsbury’s
404 - Coulsdon Common, Fox & Caterham, Westway Common
405 - Woodfield Hill & Redhill Town Centre
407 - Whyteleafe Tavern & Caterham Station
434 - Whyteleafe South, Court Bushes Rd & Whyteleafe Station
464 - Biggin Hill Valley, Sunningvale Garage & Tatsfield, Old Ship
466 - Coulsdon Common, Fox & Caterham, Westway Common
470 - Cheam, Jubilee Road & Epsom, Clock Tower
S1 - High Down & Down View Prisons & Banstead, Marks & Spencer
Redhill or Reigate PLUSBUS
Single/Day Return/Period PLUSBUS tickets are accepted at anytime on the route listed below, for a journey that starts or finishes within the points shown below.
Route - Between
405 - Woodfield Hill & Redhill Town Centre
Routes serving Surrey from Kingston/Hounslow
English National Concessionary Companions Passes
Surrey County Council issued passes with 'C+' on them allow a companion (travelling with the pass holder) to travel free on any journey that starts within the points shown below. Not valid for any journey that starts in Greater London.
Route - Between
116 - Harrow Road & Ashford Hospital
117 - Ashford Road, Field View & Staines Bus Station
166 - Chipstead Valley, Rectory Lane & Epsom General Hospital
203 - Long Lane & Staines Bus Station
216 - St. Mary’s Lodge & Staines Bus Station
235 - Sunbury Road, Hamilton Road & Sunbury Village, Three Fishes
290 - Park Road & Staines Bus Station
293 - Sparrow Farm Road & Epsom General Hospital
406 - Kingston Rd, Worcester Park Rd & Epsom Clock Tower/Gen Hosp
411 - Hampton Court, Creek Road & West Molesey, Central Square
418 - Kingston Road, Worcester Park Road & Epsom Clock Tower
465 - Kingston Road, The Star & Dorking, South Street
467 - Moor Lane, Gilders Road & Epsom General Hospital
470 - Cheam, Jubilee Road & Epsom, Clock Tower
635 - Hamilton Road, Sunbury Road & Sunbury, St. Paul’s School
K3 - Balaclava Rd, Akerman Road & Esher High St or Esher High School
Dorking PLUSBUS
Single/Day Return/Period tickets are accepted at any time on the route listed below, for a journey that starts or finishes between the points shown.
Route - Between
465 - London Road, Pixham Lane & Dorking, South Street
Routes serving the Thurrock area
English National Concessionary Companions Passes
Thurrock District Council issued passes with 'C+' on them allow a companion (travelling with the pass holder) to travel free on any journey that starts within the points shown below. Not valid for any journey that starts in Greater London.
Route - Between
347 - North Ockenden, The Old White Horse & Ockenden Station
370 - Upminster Station & Lakeside Shopping Centre
372 - Wennington, Lennards & Lakeside Shopping Centre
Thurrock foster carer/children pass
Holders of a valid green/yellow Thurrock District Council pass travel free only between the points shown above. Free travel is not allowed for any other journey.
Routes serving Waltham Cross and Cheshunt PlusBus
English National Concessionary Companions Passes
Hertfordshire County Council issued passes with 'C+' on them allow a companion (travelling with the pass holder) to travel free on any journey that starts at Waltham Cross Bus Station only, as shown below. Not valid for any journey that starts in Greater London.
Routes 217, 279/N279, 317, 327 & 491
Cheshunt PLUSBUS
Single/Day Return/Period PLUSBUS tickets are accepted at any time on the routes listed below, for a journey that starts or finishes between Waltham Cross Bus Station and:
Routes
217, 317 - Carterhatch Lane, Halfway House
279/N279 - Enfield Highway, Red Lion
327 - Throughout the route
491 - Brimsdown Station
I suggest that TfL publish information about the use of non-TfL tickets on the tickets page of their website to make it easier for passengers and bus drivers to know which types of non-TfL tickets and concessionary companion passes are accepted on selected London bus routes.
Information about other non-TfL tickets
You can read more about Essex County Council’s Saver Ticket scheme on the Essex Highways website. Unfortunately, Surrey County Council’s Acorn multi operator bus ticket is not accepted on London Buses which serve the north of Surrey.
TfL’s proposal to end phase out One Day Travelcards
I’m aware that TfL has opened up an engagement on the Have Your Say (consultation) website to ask people questions about the proposal to phase out paper One Day Travelcards, which closes on 23rd May 2023.
During December 2022, I published an article suggesting that TfL should be creative with the Travelcard scheme by providing different smart ticketing options and to link with transport services outside of London to encourage more people to travel using public transport going in, out or within Greater London. Lastly, I raised some points with London TravelWatch and Inclusion London on Twitter on how TfL’s proposal may affect various groups of people including the disabled, overseas visitors, companions of Railcard holders, etc.
If you have any issues regarding TfL’s proposal to phase out One Day Travelcards, you can raise your concerns with your local MP, councillor, London Assembly member, etc. by using the ‘Write To Them’ website for free.
I invite you to follow me on Twitter by searching for @CLondoner92 or by clicking on the direct link to my Twitter page here.
