The rail industry is continuing its commitment to accessibility and inclusion by updating eligibility criteria for the Disabled Persons Railcard. These changes are designed to better support disabled customers who may face barriers to rail travel and form part of a broader effort to create a more inclusive railway, putting customers at the centre of decision-making and helping more people travel with confidence.<\/p>\n
From 30 September, customers with a long-term impairment, health condition or neurodivergence that has lasted or is expected to last at least 12 months and significantly affects their ability to use rail services will be able to apply for the Disabled Persons Railcard. Applicants will need to provide either: (i) a report or letter from a health professional explaining how their condition affects their ability to use rail services; or (ii) a completed impact declaration form signed by a suitably qualified and regulated health or social care professional.<\/p>\n
Eligibility under the expansion will be based on the impact a person’s condition has on their ability to travel by rail rather than a diagnosis alone. For some conditions where the impact can vary significantly between individuals, confirmation of diagnosis on its own may not be sufficient. Applications requiring professional evidence will be independently assessed to determine whether the applicant experiences significant disability-related barriers to rail travel.<\/p>\n
The changes follow a review of the Disabled Persons Railcard carried out by Rail Delivery Group (RDG), Department for Transport, and Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC), which focused on understanding the barriers disabled customers face when travelling by rail and how these could be addressed.<\/p>\n
Dan Mann, co-chief executive officer at RDG said: \u201cRail connects people to jobs, education, family and communities and we want those connections to be accessible to as many people as possible.<\/p>\n
\u201cExpanding eligibility for the Disabled Persons Railcard will help more disabled people who face additional barriers when travelling by train access more affordable journeys. It is another step towards putting accessibility at the heart of the railway as we move towards Great British Railways.\u201d<\/p>\n
Research carried out by RDG as part of the review found strong support for widening eligibility, with 79% of Disabled Persons Railcard holders and 73% of non-holders supporting the inclusion of non-visible disabilities in the eligibility criteria.<\/p>\n
The first stage of the changes came into effect in March 2026, expanding eligibility to a broader range of customers who could demonstrate their eligibility through existing documentation, including Blue Badge holders and Disabled Persons Bus Pass holders.<\/p>\n
Since then, 154,480 Disabled Persons Railcards have been purchased, compared with 111,141 during the same period the previous year, an increase of 39%.<\/p>\n
The Disabled Persons Railcard offers customers one third off rail travel across Great Britain for both the Railcard holder and one accompanying adult. It costs \u00a320 for one year or \u00a354 for three years and can save the holder \u00a3126 on average each year. It can be purchased online at railcard.co.uk, by phone or by post. With a Disabled Persons Railcard, customers can travel with no time restrictions.<\/p>\n