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Help with travel costs

Bus travel

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Bus fares (all residents)

The government has announced a cap on bus fares from January 2023 to March 2023. Under the cap, a single adult fare would cost no more than £2 per journey.

Stagecoach and Arriva are taking part in the scheme. You can find a full list of all routes which are included on GOV.UK.

Bus passes (only eligible residents)

If you're eligible for a bus pass due to your age or a disability, make sure you've claimed yours. It will give you free off-peak travel on local buses, or you can travel at peak times for a small fare (which is cheaper than an adult ticket). Find out more about bus passes.

Rail travel

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Railcards (only eligible residents)

If you travel by train regularly, a railcard could save you money. There are a range of railcards available, including:

young people
older people
people with a disability
veterans
families

Find out more about railcards.

Cheaper tickets (all residents)

Buying tickets in advance can save you money. Some train companies let you set up email alerts so you can find out instantly when tickets for your planned journey go on sale. Being flexible with your travelling times can save you money too - certain times of day are cheaper to travel than others.

Some train companies have promotions where you can get cheaper tickets. Make sure you're signed up to their mailing list to find out about promotions.

Think about travelling by bus or coach if you can. For example, a coach journey between Middlesbrough and Leeds takes around the same time as it does by train, and is cheaper.

Getting to medical appointments (patient transport service - only eligible residents)

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The patient transport service is a non-emergency service for people who may need special support getting to and from their healthcare appointments. Find out more about the patient transport service.

People claiming benefits (only eligible residents)

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You can get up to 50% off travel if you're on Universal Credit with a Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount Card. Find out more about the Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount Card.

Student travel (only eligible residents)

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Students can get free travel to some colleges:

Stagecoach and Arriva also offer discounted student tickets which are cheaper than buying a standard adult fare.

Feeling like you can't cope?

We know that it's scary when you don't know if you'll be able to buy food or pay your next bill. If you're feeling anxious, depressed, or like you've run out of options, please reach out for help.

The Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys crisis service is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They will listen without judging you, support you, and help you with what to do next. You can call them on 0800 0516 171, for free. Please don't suffer alone.