From Money Saving ExpertIf you've got a blue badge or disabled person's bus pass, you may now qualify for a Disabled Person's Railcard as the eligibility criteria for the scheme has been expanded from today (Sunday 1 March). Below we explain what's changing and how to apply.
A Disabled Person's Railcard entitles the holder and an adult companion to one-third off most train fares across England, Scotland and Wales – we've more info on how it works below.
It currently costs £20 for one year or £54 for three years. The Rail Delivery Group, the firm in charge of railcards, says it has no plans to increase prices as a result of it becoming available to more people.
If you're not eligible for this railcard, there may be another one you can get – for full details of the different types available, see our Cheap train tickets guide.
From 1 March: Blue badge holders and others now qualify
Until now, the Disabled Person's Railcard had only been available to those receiving certain benefits or with certain medical conditions (as set out below). It will remain available to those people.
From today (Sunday 1 March), however, eligibility has been expanded to cover a wider range of both visible and non-visible disabilities, meaning more people will be able to apply for one.
The criteria now includes those who:
Have a blue badge.
Have a disabled person's bus pass (England, Scotland and Wales).
Have a disabled person's Freedom Pass (London only).
Can't drive on medical grounds.
Receive Armed Forces Compensation Scheme benefits.
Receive Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit for 20% degree of disablement or higher.
Are without speech.
The existing application process remains the same, but if you meet any of the new criteria, you'll also need to provide one of the following documents:
A copy of the front and back of your blue badge.
A disabled person's bus pass.
A disabled person's Freedom Pass.
A letter from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA▸ ) or a health professional confirming you're unable to drive on medical grounds.
An award letter confirming receipt of an Armed Forces Compensation Scheme benefit.
An award letter confirming receipt of an Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit for 20% degree of disablement or higher.
A document from a health professional confirming that you're without speech.
For full info on the expanded eligibility criteria, see the Disabled Person's Railcard website.
You can still get it if you receive certain benefits or have certain conditions
The previous qualifying criteria for a Disabled Person's Railcard isn't being removed – this means that you can still qualify if you:
Receive Personal Independence Payments or Adult Disability Payment.
Receive Disability Living Allowance or Child Disability Payment at either the higher or lower rate for the mobility component, or the higher or middle rate for the care component.
Have a visual impairment.
Are registered as deaf or use a hearing aid.
Have epilepsy and receive drug treatment for it.
Receive Attendance Allowance, Severe Disablement Allowance or Pension Age Disability Payment.
Receive war pensioner's mobility supplement.
Receive war or service disablement pension for 80% or more disability.
Buy or lease a vehicle through the Motability scheme.
See the Disabled Person's Railcard website for full info on eligibility criteria.
Eligibility will be extended again from September 2026
Under further planned changes from September this year, you may also qualify if you have a disability or condition that requires professional health evidence and more detailed assessment to verify. This will include:
Some long-term or degenerative health conditions.
Neurodiversity that has a substantial impact on a person's ability to travel by train.
The Rail Delivery Group says it will share information on what evidence will be required closer to the time.
You can get a third off most fares with this railcard
The Disabled Person's Railcard's discount applies to advance tickets, anytime day tickets, anytime single tickets, anytime return tickets, and off-peak and super off-peak tickets (day, single and return). It covers both standard and first class for all these ticket types.
It can also be used to get one-third off a Transport for London (TfL» ) travelcard for zones 1-9 and Oyster▸ pay-as-you-go travel on the London Underground, London Overground, Elizabeth line, London buses and more.
The discount also applies to buying tickets for Gatwick Express, Heathrow Express and Stansted Express. See full info on using your railcard.
The Rail Delivery Group says Disabled Person's Railcard holders save an average of £126 a year, or £4.70 a journey – to see how much you could save on a specific journey, use its calculator.
Visually impaired, blind or using a wheelchair? You don't need a railcard to get discounted train travel
If you're visually impaired or blind: you and and an adult companion can get 34% off anytime singles or returns and anytime day singles, and 50% off anytime day returns, both standard and first class. You can also buy an adult season ticket that lets a companion travel with you at no extra cost.
You don't need to buy a Disabled Person's Railcard to get these discounts, but you do need to provide evidence of impairment or blindness. This has to be either a CVI, BP1 or BD8 certificate, or documentation from a recognised institution, such as social services, your local authority or Blind Veterans UK▸ .
If you're a wheelchair user and will be staying in your chair for the journey: you and a companion can get 34% off anytime singles or returns and anytime day singles, and 50% off anytime day returns, both standard and first class, on adult and child fares. Again, you don't need a Disabled Person's Railcard to get these discounts. But to take advantage of them, tickets must be purchased from a staffed train station ticket office.
For more details, see the alternative discounts section on the Disabled Person's Railcard site.
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