Great Western Coffee Shop

Can anyone advise whether First or Faresaver decline to accept ENCTS bus passes on services which depart Bath after 23.00? It is legitimate for them to do so but some years ago they did not seem bothered. I wonder about the situation today with everybody chasing the last dime!

I have used the 23:15 Bath to Melksham bus with my senior card and no problem, quite recently.

My understanding is that BaNES have a setup under which ENCTS cards cane be used until close of service, with local funding after 11 p.m. - so that covers my 23:15.   But if I were to join that bus at Shockerwick (first stop over the border into Wiltshire) or a later point, my pass would not be valid.  I have never been out in the middle of the countryside that late at night to try it out ...

My understanding, in Berkshire, is they are only valid until 23:00. So no late night knees ups for us oldies.

I've used my local bus after 11pm in Bath many times and my senior pass has always been accepted. I wasn't even aware there was any restriction late night anywhere, so I've learnt something new.

The Reading BC Concessionary Travel Scheme Particulars

https://images.reading.gov.uk/2019/12/RBC_Concessionary_Travel_Scheme_Description_2020-21.pdf (https://images.reading.gov.uk/2019/12/RBC_Concessionary_Travel_Scheme_Description_2020-21.pdf)

see para 3.1

also see para 1.16 of

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-for-travel-concession-authorities-on-the-england-national-concessionary-travel-scheme/guidance-for-travel-concession-authorities-on-the-england-national-concessionary-travel-scheme (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-for-travel-concession-authorities-on-the-england-national-concessionary-travel-scheme/guidance-for-travel-concession-authorities-on-the-england-national-concessionary-travel-scheme)

The answer seems to be that in Bath at least, bus passes are accepted after 23.00. The formal national rules are that they cannot be used after 23.00 (at least on weekdays) unless there is some local concession or other "variation." So the national rules are not relevant to my question it is what applies on the ground locally that counts.

In Germany most tickets are valid to around 03:00 04:00 the following day.

I think you will find the all day tickets in Reading are also valid to the early hours of the following day.