Everyday life · England
Free and cheaper travel
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Some people can get travel discounts.
Different schemes have different rules.
Check your journey
Plan where you want to go and how you will return.
Check each bus or train you need.
Ask about a bus pass
Ask your council about a disabled person’s bus pass.
You must meet the scheme’s rules.
Ask what proof you need.
Check bus-pass times
National Monday to Friday times are 9:30am to 11pm.
Weekends and bank holidays are included at any time.
Some areas offer extra times.
Check where it works
The national pass covers eligible local buses in England.
It does not make every type of transport free.
Check companion travel
Someone travelling with you may need their own ticket.
Ask about local companion concessions.
Companion travel is not always free.
Ask about a Railcard
A Disabled Persons Railcard can reduce train fares.
You pay for the Railcard.
Check the current eligibility rules and evidence needed.
Use the right tickets
The Railcard gives one third off most adult rail fares.
One adult travelling with you can also get the discount.
Carry your Railcard and valid tickets.
Assistance is separate
Passenger Assist provides free help on train journeys.
You do not need a Railcard to ask for help.
You still need a travel ticket or valid pass.
Check before travelling
Ask about local schemes and any charges.
Check your pass expiry date.
A venue’s companion-entry card does not automatically give travel discounts.
What you can do next
Ask someone to help you check the rules.
Plan the cost of your return journey too.
Check disabled bus-pass applications Web pageThis link opens another website.
It may use harder words.
More useful links
- GOV.UK: disabled person’s bus pass Web page
Find the council or authority responsible for applications.
- Disabled Persons Railcard: current eligibility Web page
Check accepted evidence, including the eligibility changes from September 2026.
- Disabled Persons Railcard: terms and conditions Web page
Check which tickets qualify and the rules for an accompanying adult.
- National Rail: Passenger Assist Web page
Request free assistance separately from your travel ticket.
- TfL: Freedom Pass — London only Web page
Check London’s separate travel concession and its conditions.
- National Rail: wheelchair users without a Railcard Web page
Specific ticket discounts when you remain in your wheelchair throughout the journey.
These links open other websites.
They may use harder words.
Free and cheaper transport
Check disabled bus passes, Railcards, companion discounts and local schemes before you travel.
Adults · England · Eligibility and local rules vary
Start with the journey and the scheme
List the bus, train or other services you want to use, including the return trip. A disabled bus pass, Railcard and local travel scheme do different things. Check who qualifies, where and when it can be used, its expiry date and any application cost. A disability diagnosis does not automatically qualify someone for every concession.
Apply for a disabled person’s bus pass
In England, apply through the council or travel authority responsible for your area. The national scheme has defined eligibility categories, including qualifying learning disability and some mobility, sight, hearing and communication difficulties. Ask which category applies and what evidence is needed. You do not always need to receive a disability benefit. Ask for an accessible application and written reasons if refused.
Know the national bus-pass times
The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme covers eligible local bus services across England. The national minimum is free travel from 9:30am to 11pm on weekdays, and at any time on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays. Some places offer more. Check the particular service: the pass does not automatically cover long-distance coaches, trains, trams or travel in another UK nation.
Check local extras and companion travel
Councils can offer extra concessions, such as earlier travel or a companion pass for someone who needs another person’s support. These are local choices, not a nationwide entitlement. Ask whether the companion must travel with you, which services accept the concession and whether it works outside your home area. Do not assume every council recognises another area’s extra benefits.
Check current Disabled Persons Railcard eligibility
Eligibility expanded on 30 September 2026. Current routes include specified benefit awards, a disabled bus pass or Blue Badge, and other listed circumstances. There is also an assessed route for long-term conditions or neurodivergence causing significant barriers to rail travel. This needs suitable professional evidence about the impact on travel; a diagnosis alone may not be enough. Use the current official eligibility page and ask for application help if needed.
Understand the Railcard discount
The Disabled Persons Railcard is a paid card. It gives one third off most adult rail fares for the holder and one adult companion travelling with them throughout the journey. The companion does not automatically travel free. Buy the appropriate discounted tickets and carry the valid Railcard. Some ticket types are excluded. The Railcard has no general time-of-day restriction, but the ticket itself may restrict when you travel.
Ask about other local help
Ask the council about community transport, dial-a-ride or taxi concessions. Eligibility, booking, availability and charges vary. London’s Freedom Pass has separate local rules and can cover more than buses; those rules do not apply throughout England. Some people who remain in their wheelchair throughout a rail journey can get particular discounts without a Railcard. Ask the train company to compare suitable ticket options.
Keep fares, assistance and venue entry separate
Passenger Assist is free for people who need rail assistance because of disability, temporary impairment or older age. You do not need a Railcard to request it, but you still need the appropriate travel ticket or pass. A card used to arrange companion entry to a cinema or attraction does not automatically give transport discounts. Check travel costs separately from the cost of entering the venue.
Words you could use
“Please explain which travel discounts I qualify for, when I can use them and whether my companion needs a separate ticket.”
More useful links
- GOV.UK: disabled person’s bus pass Web page
Find the council or authority responsible for applications.
- Disabled Persons Railcard: current eligibility Web page
Check accepted evidence, including the eligibility changes from September 2026.
- Disabled Persons Railcard: terms and conditions Web page
Check which tickets qualify and the rules for an accompanying adult.
- National Rail: Passenger Assist Web page
Request free assistance separately from your travel ticket.
- TfL: Freedom Pass — London only Web page
Check London’s separate travel concession and its conditions.
- National Rail: wheelchair users without a Railcard Web page
Specific ticket discounts when you remain in your wheelchair throughout the journey.
These links open other websites.
They may use harder words.
Where the information comes from
Links checked 9 November 2026.
These links open other websites.
They may use harder words.
- GOV.UK: disabled bus-pass eligibility Web page
National categories and evidence; local authorities decide applications under the statutory scheme.
- GOV.UK: transport support — buses and coaches Web page
National concessionary bus travel times in England.
- GOV.UK: managing the English national concessionary travel scheme Web page
Local discretionary extras, including companion travel and earlier journeys.
- Disabled Persons Railcard: eligibility Web page
Current eligibility and assessed evidence route introduced from 30 September 2026.
- Disabled Persons Railcard: terms Web page
Discounted ticket use, excluded tickets, carrying the Railcard and travelling together.
- National Rail: Disabled Persons Railcard information Web page
One-third discount, one adult companion and separate assistance requests.
- Office of Rail and Road: disabled passengers Web page
Free assistance without requiring a Railcard.
- NHS: transport support Web page
Community schemes, registration, possible fees and local council advice.
- TfL: Freedom Pass Web page
London-specific concession; the linked scheme sets its own conditions.
- National Rail: wheelchair users without a Railcard Web page
Specified discounts for someone remaining in their wheelchair and an accompanying adult.