Interest free loans for bus and train season tickets
How the scheme operates
A member of staff can apply for a bus or train season ticket, but rather than having to buy the ticket themselves, the University of Bristol will purchase it on their behalf. The member of staff then repays the cost of the ticket in 10 monthly instalments directly from their salary.
By purchasing a season ticket in this way staff will receive an additional 10% discount from the cost of a First Bus season ticket. Please note there is no discount for the rail season ticket, but staff can use the scheme to obtain a rail season ticket from any UK rail company.
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How to apply for a bus and for a train season ticket and interest free loan
Bus season ticket
Please note that if you wish to take advantage of the specially negotiated 20% discounts that are available for the annual First Bus Bristol Zone Year ticket and the annual First Bus West of England ticket, these need to be purchased outright via the First Bus app. Further information available on our Bus Fares webpage.
These are the steps for the interest-free loan bus ticket scheme that provides a discount of 10% on the full adult price.
- These bus tickets are available only as 12-month tickets. 6-month tickets are no longer available.
- Determine the cost of the ticket:
- For the First bus season it is:
- Bristol Zone Annual £841 less 10% £756.90
- West of England Zone Annual £1050 less 10% £945.00
- These tickets are now only available as m-Tickets that are used on the First Bus app. Hard-copy passes are no longer available. See the steps below for details on how the m-Tickets work.
- Download the the First Commuter Card application form Oct 2023 (Office document, 83kB) complete it and save it (please ensure you read the Conditions of Use within this document carefully and include the conditions of use with your completed form).
- Then download the University bus season ticket loan application form (Office document, 36kB) and complete section 1 of the form only
- Email both forms to the UoB Payroll team at payroll-uob@bristol.ac.uk
- UoB Payroll team will conduct the salary eligibility check and if all is OK to proceed will complete section 2 of the University application form and send it back to you
- You then need to complete section 3 of the form to agree to the monthly deductions and email the form back to UoB Payroll team at payroll-uob@bristol.ac.uk.
- Now you have agreed to the monthly deductions, UoB Payroll will place the ticket order with First by sending them the Bus pass application form.
- First will process the ticket order and email you a voucher code. You redeem the code via the First Bus App in the following way:
- Search "First bus" in your app store and download the First Bus app to your phone.
- Set your First Bus region to Bristol, Bath and the West
- From the m-tickets menu select Bristol, Bath and the West and then Bristol
- Select Month+ menu and then either Bristol FirstYear Adult £841.00 OR West of England FirstYear Adult £1050.00
- Checkout and sign up for an account if you don't already have one, then enter the voucher code to get your m-Ticket!
- Scan the QR code as you get on the bus every time you travel.
- Direct deductions from salary will then commence for10 consecutive months.
Rail season ticket
- Loans for UK rail season tickets of 6-month and 12-month durations can be applied for.
- For a rail season ticket please complete section one of the University rail season ticket loan application form 2023 (Office document, 69kB)
- You can use the National Rail Enquiry Season ticket calculator to determine the cost of the ticket
- Email the application form to UoB Payroll team at payroll-uob@bristol.ac.uk
- UoB Payroll team will conduct the salary eligibility check and if all is OK to proceed will complete section 2 of the University application form and send it back to you
- You then need to complete section 3 of the form to agree to the monthly deductions and email the form back to UoB Payroll team at payroll-uob@bristol.ac.uk.
- Now you have agreed to the monthly deductions, UoB Payroll will now purchase the season ticket on your behalf, asking the rail company to send the season ticket to your home address.
- Your rail season ticket will arrive at your home address along with a blank photocard. You need to insert a photo before using your season ticket, as this is the proof that the sesaon ticket is yours.
- Direct deductions from salary will then commence for either 5 or 10 consecutive months.
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How long does an application take to process?
Once Payroll have received the completed form you must allow 15 working days for the ticket to be processed.
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What happens if I leave the University before the whole loan has been repaid?
The balance of the loan will immediately become repayable and will be recovered from the employee's final salary. Please note that if the balance of the outstanding loan is larger than the employee's final pay cheque, the individual will be required to repay the total outstanding balance before their last date of employment at the University of Bristol. If the season ticket is returned to Payroll before the member of staff has left the employment of the University, a refund of the outstanding balance of the season ticket will be sought from the relevant transport operator (please note an administration fee may be charged by the transport operator). When the University of Bristol has received the outstanding balance of the ticket from the company, it will be repaid to the member of staff via BACS payment. It should be noted that refunds are calculated by transport operator and are not made pro rata.
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What happens if I no longer want or need the season ticket?
The season ticket must be cancelled and/or returned to Payroll and the balance of the loan will immediately become repayable and will be recovered from the employee's next pay slip. If the balance of the outstanding loan is larger than the employee's next pay slip, individual arrangements will be made for recovering the balance. The University of Bristol will request a refund of the outstanding balance of the season ticket from the relevant transport operator. When the University of Bristol has received the outstanding balance of the ticket from the operator, it will be repaid to the member of staff through the Payroll.
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What happens if my bus pass or rail season ticket is lost or stolen?
If you lose your rail season ticket please see advice provided by National Rail.
If you have any specific questions please contact the Payroll team: payroll-uob@bristol.ac.uk
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Note: some of the documents on this page are in PDF format. In order to view a PDF you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader
payroll-uob@bristol.ac.uk
