Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bedford Borough residents who held a statutory English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) pass were able to travel on bus journeys outside the hours of operation of the scheme for a discounted fare of £1.
This affected fares before 9.30am and after 11pm on weekdays.
In March 2020, the Council made the decision to wave the payment of £1, allowing those eligible for the scheme to travel for free at all times.
With COVID-19 restrictions now ended, the £1 fare, which still allows pass holders to travel at a significantly discounted rate, is being re-implemented.
Councillor Charles Royden, Portfolio Hold for Environment, said: “I’m pleased that over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic we were able to take quick and decisive action that supported vulnerable people to access free bus travel. With restrictions lifted, now is the right time for us to reintroduce the heavily discounted £1 fare outside of the hours of the ENCTS pass.
“While the Council gets no additional funding or support to provide the discount, we have decided to continue doing so in order to keep costs down for people using sustainable forms of transport in Bedford Borough.”
The discounted fee of £1 is being re-introduced from Tuesday, November 1, 2022.
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