Welcoming 24/7 Free Bus Travel for Disabled Passengers

The Government has announced a fantastic boost for public transport in England. From April 2027, all time restrictions on disabled concessionary bus passes will be completely lifted. Millions of eligible passengers will enjoy 24/7 free travel using the ITSO-enabled English National Concessionary Travel Scheme - a proud cornerstone of ITSO’s history.

Breaking Down Barriers to Opportunity

At ITSO, we believe transport should be an enabler, not a barrier. This policy change offers genuine freedom for millions, providing seamless, round-the-clock access to work, education, and leisure.

How ITSO Technology Powers the Change

While the policy change is monumental, the technical transition behind the scenes will be virtually invisible to the passenger - and that is exactly the power of the ITSO Specification.

Because the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) is already built entirely on the ITSO Specification, implementing this new 24/7 rule is incredibly straightforward for local authorities. There is no need to issue millions of new physical smartcards or build new infrastructure. Disabled passes already have a unique digital profile, so local authorities simply need to work with bus operators to remotely update the back-office business rules on their electronic ticket machines, telling the system to accept these specific cards before 9:30 am. It is a seamless software update that instantly translates a national policy change into real-world passenger freedom.

Here is how the ITSO Specification ensures a seamless rollout:

• Interoperability: Whether a passenger taps their card in Cornwall, Manchester, or Newcastle, the ITSO standard ensures the local bus ticket machine instantly recognises the disabled pass as valid.
• Remote Updates: Bus operators and local authorities can simply update their back-office business rules to accept these cards before 9:30 am.
• Data Security & Trust: The ITSO Specification ensures that all tap-on data is recorded securely and accurately, meaning bus operators are fairly reimbursed by the government for these new morning journeys without any complex administrative overhead.

Collaboration in Membership

Working through real-world changes requires close collaboration, and we are here to help. If you are a local authority and have any questions, contact your account manager daniel.bruno@itso.org.uk.