Metro, the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive, aims to make public transport easier to use for everyone across the region. This includes people aged 60 and over, and blind and disabled people.
Senior pass
With a Senior English National Concessionary Pass, anyone aged 60 and over can travel free on off-peak local buses throughout England. As a West Yorkshire resident, you are also entitled to train travel within West Yorkshire for just 35p after 9.30am, Monday to Friday, and all day at weekends and public holidays. Before 9.30am, bus and rail travel is at full fare. To find out more about a senior pass, including how to apply, follow the internet link from this page to the Metro website.
Disabled Person’s Pass
With a Disabled Person’s English National Concessionary Pass, disabled people can travel free on off-peak local buses throughout England. As a West Yorkshire resident, you are also entitled to train travel within West Yorkshire for just 35p after 9.30am, Mondays to Friday, and all day at weekends and public holidays. Before 9.30am, bus and rail travel is at full fare. A Disabled Person’s Pass is usually valid for five years.
You are entitled to a Disabled Person's Pass if you are
- partially sighted
- profoundly/severely deaf
- without speech
- someone who has a disability or has suffered an injury which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on your ability to walk
- someone who does not have arms, or who has a long term loss of the use of both arms
- someone who has a learning disability, that is, a state of arrested or incomplete development of mind which includes significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning or
- someone who has been, or would be, refused a driving licence on certain medical grounds.
If you are unable to travel conveniently alone, you may be entitled to a special pass which allows a companion to travel with you at the same concessions when travelling with you within West Yorkshire. This does not need to be the same person for every journey.
Blind person’s pass
With a Blind Person’s English National Concessionary Pass, blind people can travel free on off-peak local buses throughout England. As a West Yorkshire resident, you are also entitled to free bus and train travel within West Yorkshire at all times. If you qualify for a Blind Person’s Pass, you will automatically get a pass that allows a companion to travel with you for free within West Yorkshire. If you have a guide dog they can also travel free within West Yorkshire. A Blind Person’s Pass is valid for five years.
How to apply
If you already have a valid Metro Disabled Permit or Blind Person’s Permit and have not ordered the English National Concessionary Pass you need to do so now. You can still use your Metro permit within West Yorkshire but only until September 30, 2008 and you will not be able to take advantage of free off-peak bus travel outside West Yorkshire. From October 1, 2008, only the English National Concessionary Passes will be valid within West Yorkshire but don’t leave it until then to order yours. To order your pass now, simply take your valid Metro Permit and one recent, passport-sized colour photograph (clearly showing your face) to a Metro Travel Centre or a Post Office. They will complete the order form for you so there is nothing else you will need to do. If you now live at a different address to the one on your Metro permit, you will also need to take in proof of your new address. This could be a recent utility bill, a council tax bill or a bank statement. Your pass may take up to three weeks to arrive at your home address so make sure you apply in plenty of time.
If you do not have a valid Metro Disabled or Blind Person’s Permit you will need to apply to us for your English National Concessionary Pass. Please phone us on 0113 2224444 and ask for an application form or call in at one of our one stop centres. Your completed form should be returned to the address at the top of the page, along with one recent passport-sized colour photograph (clearly showing your face). You may need to ask your doctor or specialist to complete parts of the form to show that you meet the requirements for a pass. They may charge you for this. If you are registered as blind we can check our blind register so you will not need to take your application to your doctor or specialist.
If your application is successful, we will order your pass for you and there is nothing else that you need to do. Please allow up to three weeks for your pass to be delivered to your home address. Please note that we cannot issue your pass, and neither can Metro Travel Centres or Post Offices.
If you need help or advice completing your application, you can ring 0113 222 4444 or visit one of our one stop centres and we will be happy to help you.
Other useful information
If you are under 60 and meet any of the following criteria, you are entitled to a Disabled Person’s Pass without needing to ask your doctor or specialist to complete the form. The criteria are
- you have a valid blue parking badge
- you receive the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance
- you receive war pensioners’ mobility supplement.
If you have a valid blue parking badge you just need to write the serial number on the application form. If you receive either of the other two benefits listed above, please send proof, for example a letter confirming this.
If you need a companion to travel with you, you will need to ask your doctor or specialist to complete part of the form to confirm this. This does not apply to blind customers who will automatically get a pass that allows a companion to travel with you. Please remember that companions can only travel with you at the same concessions within West Yorkshire.
What are the national off-peak hours?
The English National Concessionary Scheme’s hours for free travel are 9.30am to 11pm, although these times may vary in some areas.
Where can I use my pass within West Yorkshire?
You can use your pass on all scheduled train services and almost all journeys on buses in West Yorkshire displaying the Metro symbol. The only exceptions are NightRider bus services, certain special services, excursions, tours, private hire vehicles, school and works contract services and certain express buses. For travel outside the West Yorkshire boundary check with the local operators for restrictions of use.
What if I live in West Yorkshire but want to travel by train outside the county boundaries?
If you want to travel to or from points outside West Yorkshire by train, you must pay the additional fare at the start of the journey. This will normally be the full adult train fare for the section of your journey not in West Yorkshire. If you do not pay for this section of your journey before you travel, you may be charged the full adult train fare for the entire journey.
What happens if I lose or damage my pass?
You need to contact Metroline on 0113 245 7676. They will send you out a replacement pass within 14 days.
Where can I find further information about the English National Concessionary Pass?
You can find it at www.wymetro.com
Let us know what you think
We are committed to giving you the best possible service at all times, but sometimes we do make mistakes. If this happens, we want you to contact us and let us know. You can:
- telephone us on 0113 222 4444 (textphone for deaf or hard of hearing: 0113 2224410)
- use the online form on this website (see the link on the right)
- email us at complaints@leeds.gov.uk
- write to us at
Freepost RLZR-ELTX-RUEH
Leeds City Council
PO BOX 657
LS1 9BS