Free travel for over 65s

A FREE ticket to ride around Greater Manchester

Whether you’re dancing, shopping, painting the town red or just going from A to B, you can get there for free with a National Concessionary Travel Pass.

*The pass gives you free travel on any bus, train or tram throughout Greater Manchester between 9:30am and midnight, Monday - Friday, and all day at weekends and public holidays. So forget about the hassle of car parking spaces and tickets and sit back and enjoy the ride.

Are you eligible?

*Anyone who qualifies for a state pension and lives in Greater Manchester can apply for the National Concessionary Travel Pass from Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM).

*The age when you qualify for a state pension is not the same for everyone and depends on the year you were born, and in some cases you may need to be up to 66 years old. Check your state pension age to see when you'll be eligible for free bus travel.  

How to apply for your pass

The Concessionary Pass is issued by TfGM. If you’re eligible you can apply by picking up an application form from any TfGM Travelshop. Once completed, return it to a Travelshop or to the freepost address included on the form. Once issued, the pass lasts for five years.

How it works

Once you have your pass, simply hop on any bus in Greater Manchester and tap the pass on the ticket machine next to the driver until it beeps.

Please note if your pass doesn't work or you travel outside of the times mentioned above, you must pay the full adult bus fare.

If you haven’t been on a Vantage bus before, you're in for a pleasant surprise:

• If you have a smartphone, the First Bus app helps you plan your journey, find your nearest bus stop and track when the next bus is coming

• A dedicated, traffic-free busway to Manchester for faster journey times

• Up to 8 buses an hour between Leigh, Atherton and Manchester city centre.

• Low kerbside entry

• Friendly, helpful drivers

• Luxury leather seating with tables upstairs

• Priority seating for those with mobility issues

• CCTV on all buses

• Free Wi-Fi on board

• On-board audio announcements at each stop.

Please see TfGM.com for more information on using your pass on other modes of transport and what to do if you lose your pass.