Legal Background
The Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority (DTCCA) Concessionary Travel scheme (the Scheme) is published by DTCCA under powers given to the Combined County Authority to act as a Travel Concession Authority (TCA). The primary legislation governing the provision of travel concessions in England and the powers and duties of the DTCCA as the TCA for its area is at present contained within the Transport Act 1985 (the 1985 Act), the Transport Act 2000 (the 2000 Act), the Travel Concession (Eligibility) Act 2002 (the Eligibility Act 2002) and the Concessionary Bus Travel Act 2007 (the 2007 Act). The reimbursement of bus operators by TCAs for carrying concessionary passengers is governed by Public Service Obligations in Transport (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020.
A list of concessionary travel legislation including associated Statutory Instruments is provided in Schedule 1 of this document.
Scheme area
The Scheme will provide free travel on eligible local bus services to defined eligible persons within the DTCCA administrative boundary during eligible times. It will also provide via Devon County Council and Torbay Council valid statutory travel permits to eligible residents of the DTCCA’s area to allow them to have free travel throughout England during the statutory times.
Eligible services
The free travel concession will be available on all eligible local bus services as defined by the Travel Concessions (Eligible Services) Order 2002 as amended by the Travel Concessions (Eligible Services) (Amendment) Order 2009 operating within the Scheme area. All registered local bus services will be deemed to be eligible services except for those categories listed below.
The DTCCA has determined that the following categories of local bus services are not eligible under the statutory scheme and therefore no longer eligible under the Scheme:
- Services operated as sight-seeing tours offering only one type of premium
fare with no separate fares between stages or boarding points. - Services operating for less than 6 weeks.
- Rail replacement services.
- Services operated primarily for the purposes of tourism.
- Services that are non-stop, such that there are no intermediate stopping places for use by the general public i.e. that signs displayed on-bus and the service description convey the impression that the service is available to a particular category of person and is not advertised to the general public.
- Services where the majority of seats can be reserved in advance of travel apart from bookable services that provide essential local shopping services.
- The present list of registered local bus services within the Scheme area considered ineligible under the Scheme from 1 April 2026 for each category are listed in Schedule 2. This list is subject to change with alterations to local bus service registrations; a current list will be maintained by the DTCCA and will be available on request.
- Operators of eligible services within the Scheme area may not withdraw from providing the mandatory travel concession.
- All operators of eligible services have a right of admission to the discretionary elements of the Scheme; the DTCCA has powers to oblige operators to enter the discretionary elements of the Scheme.
- All operators of eligible services will be reimbursed for their participation in the scheme in respect of the income foregone in accordance with the current arrangements for reimbursement as described in section 9.
Relevant times
The mandatory free travel concession will be provided on eligible services to eligible persons at all times on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays and on week days from 0930 to 2300.
The DTCCA will exercise its discretionary powers under the 1985 Act to extend the valid times on weekdays within the Scheme area so that valid permits can be used in deep rural areas where there is an eligible service to a neighbouring town before 0930 but no further service until after 1200. In addition there will be no week day restriction after 2300 (to 0430 of the following day).
The present list of services where the pre 0930 exceptions apply are listed by route under Schedule 3. This list is subject to change with alterations to local bus service registrations; a current list will be maintained by the DTCCA and will be available on request.
Eligible Persons
In accordance with the legislation the DTCCA defines eligible persons as specified in Schedule 4.
Operators participating in the Scheme are required to provide on their eligible services to any person with a valid statutory travel permit the travel concessions specified in Schedule 4.
As specified in Schedule 4, the DTCCA will exercise its powers under the 1985 Act to provide a separate, supplementary travel permit to severely disabled persons who hold a statutory travel permit. Severely disabled persons who are only able to access public transport services with the assistance of a travelling
companion may apply for a supplementary permit for use by a nominated companion when travelling with the severely disabled person using their statutory travel permit.
Statutory Travel permits
In order to obtain mandatory free travel within the Scheme area all eligible persons must hold a valid statutory travel permit.
Eligible residents of Devon or Torbay will be required to apply for and obtain a statutory travel permit from Devon County Council or Torbay Council.
Statutory travel permits shall be issued on behalf of the DTCCA by Devon County Council or Torbay Council as specified by the Concessionary Bus Travel (Permits) (England) Regulations 2008.
Eligible residents of other English TCA areas should contact their local council to obtain a statutory travel permit.
Eligible residents of Devon and Torbay will be required to provide a completed application form, a passport sized photograph, proof of residence and proof of age or disability as specified in the current Devon or Torbay application booklet in order to obtain a statutory travel permit.
Supplementary Travel Permit for Companions of severely disabled residents
The supplementary travel permit will only be valid for journeys starting within the Scheme area.
The supplementary travel permit will be to a DTCCA design for travel within the Devon and Torbay administrative areas and will not oblige other English Travel Concession Authorities or operators to provide any concession to the holder outside the DTCCA boundary.
Operators of eligible services will be provided with full details of the design of the supplementary travel permit.
The details of the application process for a supplementary travel permit are available on request from Devon or Torbay Councils.
A supplementary travel permit will only be issued to a DTCCA resident who has already obtained a statutory travel permit and will only be valid when shown with the relevant statutory travel permit at the valid times.
Existing supplementary travel permits issued by Devon County Council are valid
until expiry within the Scheme area.
Access to travel concessions
Operators will allow free travel only on production of a current valid travel permit (concessionary pass), i.e. either a statutory travel permit or a supplementary travel permit for a Companion issued as described in para 7.5 above.
If a concessionary pass is not shown or is not valid or is defaced or travel commences before the relevant time full fare may be charged by the driver and such fares shall not be refunded to the passenger.
The ITSO hot listing process for ENCTS smartcards became operational from 1 February 2015. Where a pass has been hot listed and subsequently electronically cancelled because it has been declared lost, stolen or the person it was issued to is no longer eligible it is no longer a valid pass and will not be accepted for free travel.
A concessionary pass will be issued free of charge to eligible persons who are first time applicants.
Damaged, lost or stolen passes will be replaced on application providing reasonable care was been taken with the original pass and no fraud or other misuse is involved.
There is no legal obligation on Devon or Torbay to issue replacement passes free of charge; each Authority reserves the right to charge the administration costs of replacement.
Reimbursement arrangements
These travel concession reimbursement arrangements (subsequently referred to as “the Arrangements”) are made under the provisions of the 1985 Act and the 2000 Act as amended by the 2007 Act.
In accordance with “Concessionary Travel for older and disabled people: guidance on reimbursing bus operators (England)” issued by the Department for Transport (current edition dated Published in November 2022 for schemes commencing in April 2026), these reimbursement arrangements are established (as far as is applicable) in accordance with the principles set out in Public Service Obligations in Transport (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020, The Mandatory Travel Concession (England) Regulations 2011 and the Travel Concession Scheme Regulations 1986 with the objective that bus operators should be no better or worse off as a result of either the mandatory concession or the County Council’s discretionary concessions. The reimbursement guidance and accompanying documents can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-reimbursing-bus-operators-for-concessionary-travel
The Arrangements cover reimbursement arrangements for both the mandatory and discretionary concessions to be provided by operators within the Principal area as detailed in section 10.
TCAs are required by law to reimburse bus operators for carrying concessionary passengers. In respect of the mandatory concession, TCAs must reimburse bus operators for all concessionary journeys starting within their boundaries, regardless of whether the concessionary pass holder making the journey is resident in the TCA area.
In addition to the UK legislation governing concessionary travel schemes, TCAs are obliged to comply with Public Service Obligations in Transport (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020, which sets out the overarching rules for reimbursement of public service obligations and places a duty on TCAs to ensure that bus operators are not over compensated. Concessionary travel schemes are considered to be public service obligations.
In both the Transport Act 1985 and the Transport Act 2000 there is provision for bus operators to apply to the Secretary of State for modification and in the case of schemes established under the Transport Act 1985, cancellation of the arrangements of the TCA, if they consider that there are special reasons why the arrangements would be inappropriate.
The procedure is set out by Regulations made under the relevant Act, i.e. The Travel Concession Schemes Regulations 1986 regarding the 1985 Act, and The Mandatory Travel Concession (England) Regulations 2011 regarding the 2000 Act.
Department for Transport advice is that applications by operators should only be submitted after proper consideration and after attempts to reach a resolution at the local level have been exhausted. The time limit for making an appeal is 56 days from the commencement or variation of a scheme.
The DTCCA should be notified in writing that an operator is making an application and in the case of applications against discretionary concessions this should be indicated as soon as possible after notice is given to the operator that a discretionary concession is intended and a minimum 7 days before the application is made.
Department for Transport guidance about the process for applications against the Scheme can be found
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/concessionary-bus-travel-application-guide
Unless otherwise defined in the Arrangements, words or terms used in the Arrangements shall have the same meaning as given to such words or terms in government guidance, in the 1985 and 2000 Acts, and the 2011 and 1986 Regulations.
Operative Date
The Arrangements shall come into operation in their entirety on 1st April 2026.
Principal Area
The Principal Area covered by the Arrangements is the area within DTCCA transport authority area; specifically the Devon County Council administrative area and the Torbay unitary authority area.
Services to which the Arrangements Apply
The Arrangements shall apply to each eligible journey beginning in the Principal Area made by an eligible person as defined in Schedule 4.
For the purpose of the Arrangements, “journey” means a trip between two points without a change of vehicle or service.
Eligible Persons and Nature of Concession
In respect of the mandatory travel concessions under the 2000 Act and the DTCCA discretionary concessions under the 1985 Act, operators participating in the Arrangements will be required to provide on their eligible services to any person with a valid concessionary pass the travel concessions specified in Schedule 4.
The DTCCA reserves the right to make variations to the Scheme provided that statutory notice periods of any such variations are published ahead of implementation in accordance with the relevant legislation or Department for Transport Guidance.
Payment Periods and Dates
The “payment periods” under the Arrangements are as set out in Schedule 10 or as notified to the operators by the DTCCA in writing from time to time.
Subject to the stipulation in section 14.4, the DTCCA will make a payment to operators not later than the 10th day of the month for each payment period, which is estimated to be equal to, not less than, 85% of the sum the DTCCA estimates to be due to the operator for that period.
Subject to the stipulation in section 14.4, the DTCCA will make a further payment to operators, not later than 3 months after the end of the relevant payment period, equal to the difference (if any) between:
(a) The sum already paid to the operator for the relevant payment period as set out in Schedule 10 and,
(b)The actual amount calculated as due to the operator for that relevant payment period.
If the amount paid exceeds the amount calculated such that the DTCCA has made an overpayment for the relevant period, it shall either:
(a) deduct the level of such overpayment from the next or any subsequent payment;
or (b) if no such further payment is likely to become due or to be insufficient to recover such overpayment, demand in writing such overpayment from the operator who shall repay the same within 14 days of the demand being made.
Standard Method of Determining Passenger Journeys, Fare Values and Reimbursement Due
The standard method for assessing the total number of journeys made by eligible persons under the Arrangements is set out in Schedule 5. The standard method for assessing the fares value to be attributed to those journeys is set out in Schedule 7 and 8. The standard method for calculating the reimbursement due to the operator will be on the basis of the parameters set out in Schedule 9.
In calculating the reimbursement due to the operator, the DTCCA will take into account any data supplied by the operator if it can be shown that this is more accurate than the standard method and is more likely to enable the DTCCA to meet the objective that bus operators should be no better or worse off as a result of participation in the Scheme.
By agreement between the operator and the DTCCA the standard method need not be applied in respect of calculating the reimbursement of that operator if one or more of the following conditions are satisfied:
(a) the vehicles normally used by the operator in providing services on which concessions are available have 8 or less seats available for fare-paying passengers;
(b) the operator provides deep rural, less than daily services
(c) except during the first 3 months of operation of the Arrangements, there has not expired a period of 3 months commencing from the date on which the operator commences participation in the Arrangements in respect of a service.
In order to ensure that the reimbursement paid to an operator accords with the general principle that operators both individually and collectively are no better and no worse off financially than they would be if they did not provide the travel concessions, the DTCCA reserves the right to apply the standard methodology for calculating reimbursement to any individual service where the DTCCA, acting reasonably, believes that the nature of that service or the fares charged on that service do or could distort the general application of the standard methodology as applied to the operator’s other services.
Data
When an operator commences the operation of eligible services within the Principal Area, it shall supply to the DTCCA, together with the service registration:
(a) all relevant fares and fare tables and a list of the ticket types valid for travel on such services; and
(b) the timetables applicable to such eligible services to enable surveys to be scheduled and assessment of entitlement to reimbursement.
The operator shall inform the DTCCA of the introduction or cessation of any eligible services, changes to the times and routes of eligible services operated and, within 7 days of such event occurring, any circumstances leading to the temporary cessation or major disruptions to such services.
The operator shall provide data to the DTCCA in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 8 for the purpose of calculating the average fare.
The operator shall provide data to the DTCCA in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 5 for the purpose of calculating the number of concessionary travel journeys.
If the operator fails to provide such information or data as is referred to above, or to allow such access for surveys as is required pursuant to Schedule 6 or to record each journey as specified in Schedule 5 then the DTCCA may at its discretion defer all or part of any payment otherwise due to the operator until
such omission is fully rectified or may reimburse the operator on the basis of such estimated reimbursement as it considers appropriate.
Where it becomes apparent to the DTCCA that any eligible service is or has been subject to material disruption, or has not been operated in accordance with the registered timetable, then the DTCCA may, after giving the operator the opportunity to comment on the effects of the same on the journeys being taken by eligible persons on such services, make such adjustments to the reimbursement due to such operators as it considers necessary to reflect the effects of such disruption or non-operation.
Recalculation of Reimbursement
After the end of each financial year the DTCCA shall review the reimbursement calculations made during the previous financial year in accordance with these arrangements. Such review shall be concluded within 3 months.
Following the review, if it is determined by the DTCCA that the amount of reimbursement paid during the previous financial year should have been higher, the DTCCA shall pay the difference to the operator within 3 months of the date of recalculation.
Following the review, if it is determined by the DTCCA that the amount of reimbursement paid during the previous financial year should have been less, the DTCCAs hall either:
(a) deduct by equal instalments the amount of over-reimbursement from the next three payments to be made under paragraph 14 above; and/or
(b) if the next three payments are not sufficient to re-pay such over-reimbursement, demand in writing such over-reimbursement from the operator and the operator shall be obliged to make such repayment within 14 days of receiving such demand.
Survey Facilities
The provisions of Schedule 6 shall apply in respect of surveys.
Additional Costs
An operator shall be entitled to claim additional reimbursement payments where the operator demonstrates to the DTCCA:
(a) that the operator has necessarily incurred additional costs attributable to an increase in the number or the capacity of vehicles used in providing services in order to meet the extra demand created by the availability of concessions; and
(b) that those costs are such that they will not be met by reimbursement payments made in accordance with the standard method during the year in which the costs are incurred.
Any operator claiming additional reimbursement payments pursuant to paragraph above shall, in making such a claim, provide the DTCCA with sufficient supporting information to satisfy the criteria set out including, but not limited to:
(a) details of the additional number or capacity of vehicles used in providing eligible services as a result of concessions being available;
(b) information demonstrating that the additional capacity was required on those services, and is not spare capacity, and showing the extent to which the reason for requiring such additional capacity was due to the availability of concessionary travel;
(c) details of the cost of additional vehicles or additional capacity and details of how these have been utilised, less any benefit realised by the operator from disposal (or other use) of vehicles previously used to provide such services and any other benefits e.g. generated commercial patronage; and
(d) any other information that the operator believes is relevant to a claim for additional reimbursement payments arising from providing additional vehicles or capacity.
The DTCCA shall use all data provided by the operator in conjunction with any further information that the DTCCA may itself have (including, but not limited to survey data) to assess the additional costs incurred by the operator and assess the additional reimbursement payments to be made.
Payment of additional reimbursement shall be paid within 3 months of the date of calculation by the DTCCA.
Contact for Communications
All notices, data and other information required by the DTCCA under the Arrangements shall be provided to the following contact points (or such other contact point as may be notified to operators by the DTCCA in writing):
For Devon County Council area:
Position: Concessionary Bus Travel Administrator
Address: Transport Co-ordination Service
Room 120
County Hall,
Topsham Road,
Exeter
EX2 4QD
Tel.: 01392 383688
On commencing the provision of eligible services in the Principal Area, the operator shall provide to the DTCCA details of the name, address, email, telephone and fax numbers of its official contact for communications in relation to these arrangements, and shall inform the DTCCA in writing of any changes.
Any notice or communication sent to the last such address, e-mail address or fax number referred to above shall be deemed to be duly served on the recipient. If an operator has failed to give notice in writing to the DTCCA of such an official contact, then the DTCCA may send any notice or other communication to any address set out in the most recent correspondence from the operator concerned, which shall be deemed to be its contact address.
Shedules
Schedule 1 – Current Concessionary Bus Travel Legislation
Legislation at 01 December 2025:
- Public Service Obligations in Transport (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (Sets out the overarching rules for reimbursement of public service obligations. Concessionary travel schemes are considered to be public service obligations).
- Concessionary Bus Travel Act 2007
- Travel Concessions (Eligibility) Act 2002
- Transport Act 2000
- Transport Act 1985
- SI 2010/459 -The Travel Concessions (Eligibility) (England) Order 2010
- SI 2005/3224 -Travel Concessions (Extension of Entitlement) (England) Order 2005
- SI 2008/417 – Concessionary Bus Travel (Permits) (England) Regulations 2008
- SI 2008/2091 – The Concessionary Bus Travel (Permits) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2008
- SI 2009/575 -The Travel Concessions (Eligible Services) (Amendment) Order 2009
- SI 2002/1016 – Travel Concessions (Eligible Services) Order 2002
- SI 2011/1121 – Mandatory Travel Concession (England) Regulations 2011
- SI 2010/1179 – The Concessionary Bus Travel Act 2007 (Variation of Reimbursement and Other Administrative Arrangements) Order 2010
- SI 1986/77 – Travel Concession Schemes Regulations 1986
- SI 1996/2711 – The Travel Concession Schemes(Amendment) Regulations 1996
- SI 2021/205 Mandatory Travel Concessions (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2021
- SI 2022/284 Mandatory Travel Concessions (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2022
Schedule 2 – Eligibility of local bus services (Section 3)
Registered local bus services shall be deemed eligible for concessions subject to the provisions of the legislation as identified in section 3. This section identifies services that are or have been operating in the Scheme area and are deemed ineligible by the DTCCA under the legislation. Where a new service is intended to be registered operators are advised to contact the DTCCA for a determination of whether the prospective service would be deemed an eligible service under the Scheme. Early notification will allow the operator to have full information to make the decision as to whether the service is likely to be financially viable or not with or without acceptance of the statutory travel permit.
Service lists current or expected to operate during period of Scheme and correct at publication deadline of 3rd March 2024; subject to change with service registration changes
- Services operated primarily for the purposes of tourism:
Service Description
54 Plymouth – Bovisand (Devon stops) (summer service)
100 Totnes – Paignton (as part of “Round Robin” service)
SP&R Salcombe Park & Ride (summer service)
- Services which are non-stop, such that there are no intermediate stopping places for use by the general public. Signs displayed on-bus and the service description convey the impression that the service is available to a particular category of person and is not advertised to the general public:
Service Description
PR3/NPR3/ Exeter RD&E Hospital Park & Ride (Digby & Sowton)
77 Exeter Rugby Service
78 Exeter Rugby Service
Chiefs Exeter Rugby Service
Various Dedicated School Services
- Bookable services apart from those bookable services that provide essentiallocal shopping services:
FLCN Stagecoach Falcon
Schedule 3 – Concessionary Travel begins at 0930 on weekday mornings with the following exceptions (section 4):
For 1st April 2026; subject to change with service registration changes (section 4.3.)
Service Number Fare Stage Time District
6 WEEKSTONE COTTAGE 09:26 Torridge
6 BURNARDS HOUSE FARM 09:28 Torridge
87 BERE FERRERS Rail Station 09:10 West Devon
94 HOLBETON Mildmay Colours 09:17 South Hams
94 MEMBLAND 09:29 South Hams
162 INNER HOPE 09:10 South Hams
162 OUTER HOPE 09:12 South Hams
162 GALMPTON 09:15 South Hams
162 SOUTH MILTON, Stores 09:29 South Hams
165 BROADHEMPSTON Square 09:22 South Hams
165 LANDSCOVE Church 09:29 South Hams
178 LUSTLEIGH Turn 09:25 Teignbridge
188 SANDY MOOR CROSS Shelter 09:10 West Devon
188 ASHWATER Phone Box 09:15 West Devon
188 BROADWOODWIDGER 09:25 West Devon
309 LYNMOUTH Lyndale Coach Park 09:00 North Devon
309 LYNTON Castle Hill Car Park 09:10 North Devon
309 BARBROOK Post Office 09:18 North Devon
309 MARTINHOE CROSS Woody Bay Station 09:23 North Devon
309 PARRACOMBE Fox And Goose 09:28 North Devon
322 ASHREIGNEY Church Green 09:25 Torridge
350 KENTISBEARE Post Office 09:27 Mid Devon
350 KENTISBEARE Parsons Close 09:29 Mid Devon
360/361 BRIDFORD SHELTER 09:21 Teignbridge
387 WIGGATON 09:22 East Devon642 NORTHLEW Square 09:15 West Devon
642 HIGHAMPTON Post Office 09:25 West Devon
646 SANDY MOOR CROSS Shelter 09:15 West Devon
646 ASHMILL 09:20 West Devon
646 ASHWATER Church 09:22 West Devon
647 MONKOKEHAMPTON Post Office 09:15 West Devon
647 INGLEIGH GREEN 09:20 West Devon
648 IDDESLEIGH Green 09:15 West Devon
648 INGLEIGH GREEN 09:20 West Devon
677 ZEAL MONACHORUM Church 09:12 Mid Devon
677 COLEFORD Gospel Hall 09:27 Mid Devon
678 PUDDINGTON 09:25 Mid Devon
679 BEECH HILL Cross 09:10 Mid Devon
679 BLACK DOG, Inn 0915 Mid Devon
679 KENNERLEIGH Post Office 09:23 Mid Devon
681 FARWAY Church Green 09:20 East Devon
681 FARWAY Village Centre 09:25 East Devon
694 AWLISCOMBE Nap View 08:50 East Devon
694 DULFORD Phone Box 09:00 East Devon
694 KENTISBEARE Post Office 09:05 Mid Devon
694 KENTISBEARE Parsons Close 09:06 Mid Devon
694 LANGFORD GREEN 09:25 Mid Devon
863 AWLISCOMBE Nap View 08:53 East Devon
863 BROADHEMBURY Square 09:03 East Devon
863 COLLITON Cross 09:08 East Devon
863 PAYHEMBURY Hillside 09:14 East Devon
863 CLYST WILLIAM CROSS 09:21 East Devon
863 NORMAN’S GREEN Shelter 09:25 East Devon
863 PLYMTREE Church 09:27 East Devon
873 BRAYFORD Barnstaple Cross 08:50 North Devon
873 WEST BUCKLAND Shelter 09:00 North Devon
873 EAST BUCKLAND Cross 09:05 North Devon
873 STAG’S HEAD 09:10 North Devon
886 SHALDON School 09:20 Teignbridge
886 COMBEINTEIGNHEAD 09:29 Teignbridge
Schedule 4 – Eligible Persons and Nature of Concessions (section 5)
Mandatory concessions under the 2000 Act and the 2007 Act
| Class of Eligible Persons | Nature of Concession to be Provided (Bus only) |
| Elderly Persons (as defined in section 146 Transport Act 2000 and the Travel Concessions (Eligibility) Act 2002 as amended by SI 2010/459 The Travel Concessions (Eligibility) (England) Order 2010) Disabled Persons (as defined in section 146 Transport Act 2000) | On production of a statutory travel permit (as defined in The Concessionary Bus Travel (Permits) (England) Regulations 2008 SI 417/2008) a person shall be carried without charge on services to which the Arrangements apply, provided that the actual time of boarding falls between the following hours: (a) Monday to Friday (except when the day is a Bank Holiday) 09.30 to 23.00; (b) Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays. All day until end of normal services. |
| Elderly and Disabled Persons as defined above | On production of a statutory travel concession permit (as defined in The Concessionary Bus Travel (Permits) (England) Regulations Statutory Instruments 2008 no 417) a person shall be carried without charge on: week day services before 0930 in deep rural areas provided that there is a service before 0930 but no further service until after 1200; on services after 2300 on weekdays until the end of normal services. |
Schedule 5 – Standard Method of Determining Passenger Journeys
(Section 15)
Ongoing validation of eligible journeys, reimbursement calculations and claims require the accurate recording of free travel provided to statutory travel permit holders and DTCCA companion pass holders.
For the purposes of reimbursement the origin or boarding point of each eligible journey must be recorded accurately for the correct identification of the Travel Concession Authority responsible for reimbursement.
Where a valid concessionary pass cannot be recorded using an ITSO enabled smart reader a zero value ticket must be issued enabling recording of the boarding point both on the ticket and within the ticket machine. There will also be a requirement for a record of each concessionary journey destination declared by the passenger that, together with the record of journey origin, will allow the pattern and volume of concessionary business to be assessed.
Where a concessionary pass is recognised and the origin is recorded electronically onto an ITSO enabled electronic ticket machine and so to the ITSO back office and HOPS, paper tickets are not required and the destination point will be estimated from return journey information.
Where suitable equipment is available to record concessionary journeys through the ITSO systems the proportion of manual to electronically recorded transactions is expected to be low, in the region of 5% or lower. Where the percentage of manual transactions is higher DCC reserves the right to investigate the reason for the increase on individual services or groups of services and to adjust reimbursement accordingly. Any operator experiencing difficulties with their electronic recording should contact DCC so that a proper account can be taken.
The ITSO hot listing process for ENCTS smartcards is now operational in the DTCCA area. The DTCCA works with operators to hotlist and electronically cancel cards that are used fraudulently. Such cards will not be accepted for free travel so that DTCCA will not be subject to reimbursement claims against ENCTS cards that should no longer be in use and the operator should be reasonably able to refuse free travel and charge the normal fare for travel. DTCCA provides further information, support and promotional information to assist operators and their staff where hot listed or cancelled cards are circulating.
The DTCCA supplementary companion pass is not currently a smart card and any free journeys provided must be recorded manually onto the ticket machine as for a valid statutory travel permit that does not register on an ITSO enabled smart reader. The companion card will not be valid for free travel unless a valid DTCCA issued ENCTS card is shown at the same time.
The individual details of all valid concessionary journeys must be held by the operator for a period of six years for audit purposes.
All operators of eligible services are required to provide summary information by service and calendar month of the number of journeys made by statutory travel permit holders and supplementary DTCCA companion passes to the DTCCA or its agents. This monthly data is to be provided by the end of the following calendar month and to be based on the records of valid concessionary journey transactions. These monthly data returns will form the basis of reimbursement calculations and reconciliations.
The DTCCA will make reasonable requests for more detailed data with regard to transactions from time to time to ensure the ongoing validation of concessionary journey transactions and in support of reimbursement claims On-bus sample surveys will be required for checking the validation of concessionary pass use, ticket issue, as applicable, and recording of concessionary journey transactions. Survey requirements are detailed in Schedule 6.
Schedule 6 – Survey Facilities (Section 18)
- An operator shall allow the DTCCA’s officers or appointed agents to have free access to the operator’s vehicles for the purpose of:
(a) surveying, counting or estimating the number of passengers (whether generally or of any particular description) and the fares paid by those passengers; and
(b) obtaining information on other matters relating to the journeys made by passengers who are eligible to receive travel concessions and necessary to the calculation of reimbursement payments by the DTCCA. - The survey data will be utilised by the DTCCA in calculating the reimbursement payable to the operator and/or validating the data supplied by the operator for the purpose of calculating reimbursement.
- Without prejudice to the generality of 1 above, the information to be obtained from passengers may include the following:
(a) whether or not the passenger is a concessionary passenger;
(b) if the passenger is a concessionary passenger, what category of
concessionary passenger he or she is;
(c) if the passenger is not a concessionary passenger, whether the passenger
is an adult, a child or an elderly person;
(d) if the passenger has paid on-bus or is using a pre-paid ticket;
(e) if the passenger has paid on-bus, the fare paid and the type of ticket bought;
(f) if the passenger is using a pre-paid ticket, the type of ticket;
(g) the stage or stop at which the passenger boarded the bus and the stage or
stop at which the passenger is to alight from the bus;
(h) identification of permit or ticket fraud or misuse on the relevant services;
and
(i) such other information as the DTCCA may from time to time reasonably
consider it necessary or desirable to obtain in order to enable the DTCCA
to reimburse each operator in accordance with these Arrangements.
Schedule 7 – Standard Method of Determining Fares Values (Section 15)
Fare values will be determined by calculating the weighted average adult equivalent fare (AAEF) value for tickets sold for the operator’s eligible services to adult full fare paying passengers. This can be a combination of tickets sold on-bus or from the operators’ website in the form of downloadable tickets to an operator specific application on a mobile device or other mobile device or application.
The calculation of the AAEF for each operator will be based on Department for Transport guidance and reimbursement tools as appropriate to the DTCCA area and each operator’s network of eligible services.
The AAEF calculation will include single, return, day, carnet and weekly tickets (if available). Return tickets will be taken to represent two trips, day tickets to represent three trips, carnets as sold and weekly tickets to represent ten trips. The volume and value of weekly tickets relative to the other ticket types will be assessed before a determination of whether they will be included in the average adult fare equivalent.
At the end of each 3 month payment period operators are required to provide summary information by service of the number and value of tickets sold in each ticket type (Schedule 7).
The 3 month payment periods for a given financial year will be 1st April -30th June (Period 1), 1st July – 30th September (Period 2), 1st October – 31st December (Period 3) and 1st January – 31st March (Period 4).
To allow calculation of a monthly payment from the beginning of the Scheme in April 2026 as specified in section 12, operators are required to provide fare data for the period from January to January 2026.
Where the great majority of passengers on a service are made by concessionary pass holders and few adult tickets are sold the DTCCA shall reserve the right to employ the shadow fare value of concessionary journeys as a means of determining fare values for the purposes of reimbursement.
Schedule 8 – Data Provision for Average Fare Calculation (Section 15)
Every operator claiming reimbursement under the Arrangements is required to submit to the DTCCA a statement containing the following:-
i. Within 7 working days of the end of each 3-month payment period, the total number of passenger journeys made on eligible services, starting within the Scheme area, on which concessions are available.
ii. Within 7 working days of the end of each 3-month period, the total amount of fares received by the operator from the passengers referred to in i above (whether received on or off- bus).
iii. Within 7 working days of the end of each 3-month payment period, the total number of passenger journeys made on eligible services, starting within the Scheme area, by eligible persons in each of the concession categories set out in Schedule 2.
iv. Within 7 working days of the end of each 3-month payment period, for each eligible service operated in the Scheme area, the total number and value of adult single tickets sold on the whole of each eligible service.
v. Within 7 working days of the end of each 3-month payment period for each eligible service, the total number and value of adult return tickets sold on the whole of each eligible service.
vi. Within 7 working days of the end of each 3-month payment period for each eligible service, the total number and value of adult day tickets sold on the whole of each eligible service.
vii. Within 7 working days of the end of each 3-month payment period for each eligible service, the total number and value of adult carnet tickets sold on the whole of each eligible service. .
viii. Within 7 working days of the end of each 3-month payment period for each eligible service, the total number and value of adult weekly tickets sold on the whole of each eligible service.
Schedule 9 – Standard Method of Determining Reimbursement (Section 15) Devon County Council administrative area only
The assessment of reimbursement due from the Scheme from 1 April 2026 is based on the research and analysis carried out by the Department for Transport (DfT) during 2023 in response to the observed changes in travel patterns since the pandemic. This is supported by our own analysis of the fluctuation of the number of new and existing passholders residing in the Scheme area and the generation of travel as a result.
From March 2020 to April 2024 concessionary reimbursement was based predominately on trips made before the pandemic. The DfT made it possible through legislative powers for Local Authorities to pay beyond the “no better no worse off” principle by the laying of a Statutory Instrument (SI) before Parliament for successive years. The last SI ended April 2024 so reimbursement has since returned to being based on the actual level of concessionary travel.
Concessionary travel patterns and volume of travel has not recovered to pre-pandemic levels. In the Scheme area, the volume of travel is approximately 70% of the level recorded in 2019 compared to 2025.
As the recovery of concessionary travel in the Scheme area is slow, the revised reimbursement rates introduced in 2024 will remain. If the volume of travel recovers, our rate of reimbursement will reduce to reflect any increase in travel in future years.
The DfT is committed to a review of eligibility and operational parameters of the National Bus Pass scheme. This could impact upon the volume of travel if new operational times or new categories of eligibility are made available.
From April 2026, the Reimbursement Factor (RF) used by Devon County Council will be 56% of the weighted average adult fare for each valid journey made with a concessionary travel permit starting within the Scheme area. Marginal Operating Costs (MOC) will attract a payment of 11p for each generated journey to cover the additional Marginal Operating Costs (MOC) of participation in the scheme. For this purpose, 44% of concessionary journeys recorded will be deemed to be generated by the existence of the Scheme.
The actual number of concessionary journeys made in the Scheme area and the average adult fare values will be monitored so the amount of reimbursement paid to operators under the scheme can be reviewed on an annual basis to ensure that payments reflect the objective that operators should be no better or worse off as a result of the Scheme.
The DTCCA commits itself, in partnership with participating operators, to review the
Scheme on an annual basis. Such reviews will have to anticipate statutory notifications
and publication timescales.
Supply of Information to Determine Reimbursement Torbay Council administrative area only
For trips commencing in Torbay, reimbursement will be calculated for each operator based on the Department for Transport guidance on reimbursing bus operators for concessionary travel for older and disabled people 2026-27
- Each operator will be required to provide information on all journeys undertaken by all Passholders. Operators will have to demonstrate to the Scheme Administrator (Torbay) that they have in place sufficient controls to ensure the accurate recording of concessionary journeys.
- The precise specification and format of the required data shall normally be a matter of agreement between each Participating Operator and Torbay Council but Torbay Council reserves the right to reasonably specify the content, manner, form and method by which such information has to be extracted and provided in cases where they consider it necessary to do so. The information
normally required will be as follows for each data return period.
- Numbers of concessionary journeys made by passholders boarding the services within the Principal Area of the Scheme. These should be broken down by service / route number and by boarding stage, as a minimum.
- The average fare paid by fare paying passengers boarding within the Principal Area of the Scheme per journey for each route/service, taking account of single and return tickets and of other discounted fare products (or information to enable this to be calculated) as set out in Department for Transport Guidance.
- Additional detail may be requested from time to time to verify data returns.
- Data returns are normally expected to be in spreadsheet form (unless some other form is agreed between the Operator and Torbay Council), drawing on data extracted directly from electronic ticketing machines (ETMs). Those machines must be configured such that relevant journeys made by Scheme passholders can be separately identified. Participating Operators expected to receive Total Reimbursement totalling £50,000 or more in respect of a Financial Year must provide data based on such ETM records. Participating Operators expected to receive Total Reimbursement totalling less than £50,000 in respect of a Financial Year may provide data returns based on an acceptable alternative to ETM data, subject to the prior agreement of Torbay Council.
- The information provided by an operator will be treated in strictest confidence. However, an operator may request details of any survey information, obtained on its services, or the details of the calculation of its payment, at any reasonable interval.
- In exceptional circumstances (where for example some ETM data has been irretrievably lost) an agreed level of reimbursement could be determined jointly by the Scheme Administrator and the operator concerned, provided this is consistent with the principles of the standard method and previous payment precedents.
Schedule 10 – Payment Periods Devon County Council administrative area only (Section 14)
Subject to the continuing provision of data, payments in advance of reconciliation will be made each calendar month by the 10th day of the month for that month.
These payments will be estimated, based on a calculation of the revenue foregone by the operator on the eligible services operated and the expected annual income due.
These payments will be reconciled after each 3 month period against the actual number of journeys recorded on the operator’s eligible services in the Scheme area and the average adult fare per trip on those eligible services, discounted by the calculated reimbursement factor, including additional payment per generated journey.
The 3 month payment periods for a given financial year will be 1st April -30th June (Period 1), 1st July – 30th September (Period 2), 1st October – 31st December (Period 3) and 1st January – 31st March (Period 4)
A final reconciliation will be made at the end of each financial year as described previously.