From Tuesday 1 April 2008, customers are advised that the Concessionary Travel Scheme for residents within the boroughs of Stockton, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, and Hartlepool will be amended, as follows:

• Residents who are aged 60 years or over, and are members of the Concessionary Travel scheme will continue to be entitled to ALL DAY, FREE bus travel throughout the boroughs of Stockton, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, and Hartlepool.

• In addition to local travel throughout the boroughs of Stockton, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, and Hartlepool, people aged 60 years or over (or those passengers who are disabled) will also be able to travel FREE on “local” bus services throughout the rest of England too! Outside the boroughs of Stockton, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, and Hartlepool this concession will statutorily apply from 09.30am until 11.00pm Monday to Friday, and all day weekends and bank holidays. Some local authorities may offer extended times - for more details, please contact them directly.
  Some local bus services also travel quite long distances too - such as to Scarborough (on Arriva Services 93/X93), Durham (on Arriva Service X1) or to Newcastle (on Go North East Service X10). These routes are classed as “local” bus services due to the number of stops they make on the way.

• Please note that under the new scheme, “local buses” will exclude coach services (such as megabus.com and most journeys operated by National Express). Free Concessionary Travel is also not available on the Newcastle City-sightseeing tourist bus, nor on the Tyne and Wear Metro, Shields Ferry or the former British Rail trains.

• In order to claim your entitlement, you will need to show your Concessionary Travel pass to the bus driver when you are boarding, and retain the ticket that the driver will issue to you.

• If you hold a Disabled Concessionary Travel pass, then you will continue to be entitled to travel FREE at all times throughout the boroughs of Stockton, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, and Hartlepool. Outside of these areas, this FREE concession will be available from 09.30am until 11.00pm Monday to Friday, and all day at weekends and Bank Holidays.

• If you haven’t already applied for your new free National Concessionary Travel pass, or for more details on the new scheme, please ring your local borough council, as follows:
  Middlesbrough Borough Council: 01642 729 700.
  Stockton Borough Council: 01642 528 499.
  Hartlepool Borough Council: 01429 523 337.
  Redcar and Cleveland: 01642 444 973.

For more details on these changes, please telephone Traveline on 0871 200 22 33.