Travel Tokens

Residents in the Wokingham Borough who are 60 or over, or who are 16 or over and have a disability, can apply for concessionary fare Travel Tokens.

You cannot apply for Travel Tokens if you have already applied for a National Bus Pass from the Council.

Travel Tokens can be used to pay fares on local journeys starting within the Wokingham Borough or from the railway stations at Bracknell, Martins Heron, Maidenhead or Reading. They can be used on:

Local buses
Trains
Taxis
Readibus Services
Keep Mobile services
Loddon Bridge Park and Ride

Each token is worth 50 pence and has an expiry date stamped on the back. They cannot be used after the expiry date has been passed. Operators accepting the tokens are not required to give change. So, if you have a £1.70 fare and pay £2.00 in tokens you will not get any change. However you can pay £1.50 in tokens and add a 20 pence coin.

Tokens are issued in two basic levels:

Universal - £40.00 per year
Means Tested - £80.00 per year

If you are unable to travel alone you can also apply for a Companion issue. The value of tokens issued to a Companion will be the same as the value issued to you.

Please note: the value of tokens issued will be reduced by 25% at the start of each new quarter of the year. For example, from 1st July in any year the universal £40 issue will be reduced to £30. This will be further reduced to £20 from 1st October and then £10 from 1st Janaury.

How to apply

You cannot apply for Travel Tokens if you have already applied for a Free Bus Pass.

Everyone who meets the age or disability criteria automatically qualifies for the Universal issue. You will need to complete an application form and you must also show suitable documentary proof of your age and address.

Suitable proof of age

Passport
Driving Licence
Birth Certificate - if your name has changed from the one showing on your Birth Certificate you will also need to show proof of that change, for example with a Marriage Certificate or Deed Poll

Suitable proof of address

Driving Licence
Recent Utility Bill
Recent Bank Statement

Suitable proof of disability

Disabled Parking Badge
Proof of Higher Level Mobility component of Disability Living Allowance - latest award letter from Department of Work and Pensions
Certificate of Visual Impairment or Deafness
Proof of receiving Disability Living Allowance in the higher rate for help with getting around, or in the higher or middle rate for help with personal care - latest award letter from Department of Work and Pensions
Proof of receiving War Pensioner's Mobility Supplement or War or Service Disablement Pension a disability of 80 per cent or more - latest award letter from Deptartment of Work and Pensions or other Government Office

Applicants who wish to claim for the Means Tested issue will also need to provide documentary proof of one of the following types of benefit income:

Housing Benefit - show a copy of your latest Council Tax Bill or Benefit notification letter from the Council
Council Tax Benefit - show a copy of your latest Council Tax Bill or Benefit notification letter from the Council
Pension Gaurantee Credit - show a copy of your latest award letter from the Department of Work and Pensions
Attendance Allowance - show a copy of your latest award letter from the Department of Work and Pensions
Incapacity Benefit - show a copy of your latest award letter from the Department of Work and Pensions
Disability Living Allowance - show a copy of your latest award letter from the Department of Work and Pensions
Mobility Allowance - show a copy of your latest award letter from the Department of Work and Pensions
Carers Allowance - show a copy of your latest award letter from the Department of Work and Pensions

Companion issues

If you are unable to travel alone and wish to apply for a Companion Pass you will need one of the following:

A letter from your GP to confirm that you are unable to travel alone, note – your Doctor may charge for providing this letter and if so you will have to pay this bill
Proof of receiving the Higher Level Mobility component of Disability Living Allowance - latest award letter from Department of Work and Pensions
Proof of receiving Disability Living Allowance in the higher rate for help with getting around, or in the higher or middle rate for help with personal care - latest award letter from Department of Work and Pensions
Proof of receiving War Pensioner's Mobility Supplement or War or Service Disablement Pension a disability of 80 per cent or more - latest award letter from Department of Work and Pensions or other Government Office

Where do new applicants apply

New applicants should apply at either:

Cashiers at the Civic Offices, Shutre End, Wokingham Monday to Friday - 9.00am to 5.00pm
Earley Town Council, Council Offices, Radstock Lane, Earley Monday to Friday - 9.00am to 1.00pm and 2.00pm to 4.00pm

These offices have the necessary application forms for you to complete. To save some time you can also download a copy of the form from the link below and fill it in.

Where do existing applicants re-apply

All existing applicants will be notified of the timetable for the main issue of the Travel Tokens which takes places in various halls throughout the Borough in February and March each year.

A letter will be sent to you listing the various dates and addresses of the issuing centres. You can go to any of the centres on any of the dates specified. You do not need to go to the centre closest to you.

An application form will be sent to you weith the letter. You must complete this form and take it and any proof details that are requested with you when you go to the issue centre.

Lost or stolen Tokens

If your tokens are lost or stolen, regrettably we cannot replace them. However if requested we will provide a letter for your insurance company confirming what value of tokens were issued to you on what date.