What is the Disabled Persons Railcard?

For disabled people who travel by train in Great Britain.

Applies to: England, Scotland, Wales Last checked against official sources: 6 October 2026

It is a railcard that gives disabled people up to a third off rail tickets, if they are eligible.

You must provide evidence of a disability that qualifies.
You apply on the official Disabled Persons Railcard website, not on GOV.UK.
That website lists the conditions that qualify and the evidence you need.
Train companies can also help you at stations if you tell them in advance.

Different in Northern Ireland

Translink offers a Half Fare SmartPass instead, for example to people aged 16 to 59 who get the PIP mobility component.

Different in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

Rules may be different in:

Northern Ireland: Check nidirect for Northern Ireland

Key facts

Up to a third off rail tickets
Evidence of disability needed
Apply on the railcard website
NI: Half Fare SmartPass

What the railcard does

The Disabled Persons Railcard is a railcard for disabled people. GOV.UK says that if you are eligible, you can get up to a third off rail tickets.

The railcard is not run by GOV.UK. You apply on the official Disabled Persons Railcard website, which GOV.UK links to from its page on transport help for disabled people. That website sets out the price of the card, the conditions that qualify and the rules for using it.

Who can get it

You must give evidence of a disability that qualifies. The railcard website has the full list of qualifying conditions and the kinds of evidence it accepts. Check this list before you apply, so you know which papers to send.

How much you could save

The saving depends on the ticket you buy. These examples use a full third off:

Normal ticket price	A third off	You pay
£15	£5	£10
£30	£10	£20
£90	£30	£60

To see if the railcard is worth it, compare the price of the card with what you spend on trains in a year. For example, if you spend £300 a year on tickets, a third off would save you £100 before you take off the cost of the card.

How to apply

Read the qualifying conditions on the official Disabled Persons Railcard website.
Get your evidence ready.
Apply on the railcard website. GOV.UK links to it from its train help page.

Other help on trains

Help at the station: train companies let you give advance notice if you think you will need help from staff. You can also check if a station has accessible facilities on the National Rail website.
Complaints: complain to the train company first. If that does not sort it out, you may be able to complain to the Rail Ombudsman. It only deals with train companies that are part of its scheme.
Buses: in England, if you are "eligible disabled" you can apply to your council for a free disabled person's bus pass.

If you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

Scotland: disabled people can get a free bus pass, and some can also get free travel for a companion.
Wales: the Welsh Government runs its own bus pass scheme. See its bus pass page for details.
Northern Ireland: Translink runs bus and rail services. The Half Fare SmartPass gives half fare on scheduled Translink bus and rail journeys in Northern Ireland. One way to get it is if you get the standard or enhanced mobility part of PIP, are aged 16 to 59, and have lived in Northern Ireland for at least three months. It does not work on cross-border journeys or in the Republic of Ireland.

Related guides

Where this comes from

GOV.UK: Transport support for disabled people: trains
GOV.UK: Apply for a disabled person's bus pass
mygov.scot: Transport help for older or disabled people
Welsh Government: Apply for a bus pass
nidirect: Half Fare SmartPass: PIP

Get it done

This takes you to the official service, which is free to use.

Read GOV.UK train help

Common questions

How much does the Disabled Persons Railcard save?

If you are eligible, you can get up to a third off rail tickets.

How do I apply?

Apply on the official Disabled Persons Railcard website and send evidence of a disability that qualifies.

Can I use it in Northern Ireland?

Northern Ireland has its own Half Fare SmartPass for Translink bus and rail journeys within Northern Ireland.

Official sources

1.Transport support for disabled people: trainswww.gov.uk/transport-disabled/trains
2.Half Fare SmartPass: Personal Independence Paymentwww.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/half-fare-smartpass-personal-independence-payment-pip

Checked against GOV.UK on 6 October 2026

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