More people can now get a Disabled Persons Railcard: Who qualifies and how to apply

Since Wednesday 30 September 2026, you can apply for a Disabled Persons Railcard if you have a long-term impairment, health condition or neurodivergence that significantly affects your ability to use the railway. There is no fixed list of qualifying conditions. Instead, eligibility is now based on how your condition affects your travel.

This is the second expansion this year. In March, the railcard opened up to Blue Badge holders, disabled bus pass holders and several other groups. Rail Delivery Group says Disabled Persons Railcard sales were up 39% on the previous year after that first change.

Both changes came out of a review by Rail Delivery Group, the Department for Transport and the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee, which concluded the old criteria did not reflect a modern understanding of disability. In RDG's own research, 79% of existing holders and 73% of non-holders supported including non-visible disabilities.

If you have ever been turned away because your condition was not on the list, it is worth checking again.

The railcard gives you, and one adult travelling with you, a third off most rail fares across England, Scotland and Wales.

There are a few extras worth knowing about:

• London travel: The cardholder gets a third off Travelcards for zones 1 to 9 and off-peak pay as you go on the Underground, London Overground, Elizabeth line and DLR, once the railcard is linked to an Oyster card.
• Airport express trains: The discount also applies on Gatwick Express, Heathrow Express and Stansted Express.
• No price rise: Rail Delivery Group has said there are no plans to increase the price because more people can now buy it.

Unlike the Two Together Railcard, which cannot be used before 09:30 on weekdays, or the 16-25 Railcard, which has a minimum fare before 10:00, the Disabled Persons Railcard has no time restrictions at all.

There are now three routes to eligibility. The newest one sits on top of the others, so nobody who qualified before has lost out.

New from 30 September 2026: impact-based eligibility

You may qualify if you have a long-term impairment, health condition or neurodivergence that:

• Has lasted, or is expected to last, at least 12 months
• Significantly affects your ability to use rail services

This is designed for people whose needs were not covered by the old lists. When the change was first announced, the industry pointed to long-term or degenerative medical conditions and neurodivergence as examples, where they have a substantial impact on travelling by train. A diagnosis on its own does not decide it. What matters is the effect on your travel.

Since 1 March 2026: wider proof of disability

You qualify if you:

• Hold a Blue Badge
• Hold a disabled person's bus pass (England, Scotland or Wales)
• Hold a disabled person's Freedom Pass (London)
• Cannot drive on medical grounds
• Receive Armed Forces Compensation Scheme benefits
• Receive Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit at 20% or higher
• Are without speech

The original criteria (still in place)

You also still qualify if you:

• Receive Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Adult Disability Payment
• Receive Disability Living Allowance or Child Disability Payment (higher or lower rate mobility, or higher or middle rate care)
• Receive Attendance Allowance, Severe Disablement Allowance or Pension Age Disability Payment
• Have a visual impairment
• Are registered deaf or use a hearing aid
• Have epilepsy and take medication for it
• Receive War Pensioner's Mobility Supplement, or a war or service disablement pension for 80% or more disability
• Buy or lease a vehicle through the Motability scheme

The full and current list, including the proof needed for each, is on the Railcard website.

Applying through the new route needs one of two types of evidence. Both must explain how your condition affects your ability to travel by train, not just what the condition is.

How the assessment works

• Independent decision: Applications under the new criteria are reviewed by an independent third-party decision-making service, which decides whether you face significant disability-related barriers to rail travel.
• Timing: How long it takes depends on your evidence and how many applications are being processed at the time. If you have a trip coming up, apply early.
• If you are turned down: You are refunded automatically within five to seven working days, and you can appeal. Details of the appeals process come with the decision.

One practical tip: when you ask a professional for a letter, mention that it needs to describe the effect on train travel specifically. A letter that simply confirms a diagnosis may not be enough.

There are three ways to apply.

1. Online: Go to the Railcard website, choose the reason you are eligible from the list and upload your proof.
2. By post: Download and complete the application form, then send it with your evidence and payment to National Railcards, PO Box 8626, Swadlincote, DE11 1JA. Cheques and postal orders should be made payable to 'ATOC Ltd Railcard'.
3. By phone: Call 0345 605 0525, or use textphone on 0345 601 0132. Lines are open 7am to 10pm every day except Christmas Day.

Once you have your railcard, remember to carry it whenever you travel on a discounted ticket. If you are asked for it and cannot show it, you may have to pay the full fare.

If you use a wheelchair or are visually impaired, you may not need a railcard at all to get money off.

These discounts only apply to Anytime fares. For Advance and Off-Peak tickets, a railcard will usually save you more, so it is worth getting one if you travel more than once or twice a year.

Once your railcard arrives, add it when you search on Choo Choo and the discount is applied to every eligible fare automatically.

• Railcard discounts applied: Select the Disabled Persons Railcard when searching and your prices update straight away. Your companion's (must be an adult) discount is included too.
  
• Split ticketing on every search: Choo Choo checks whether splitting your journey into separate tickets saves money, and the railcard discount applies to each ticket. You stay on the same train throughout.
  
• No booking fees: The price you see is the price you pay.
  
• Delay Repay alerts: If your train is delayed enough to claim compensation, we let you know.
  

A third off is a good start. Combining it with an Advance fare and a split ticket is often where the biggest savings are.

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Information accurate as of 20 October 2026. Check the Railcard website for the latest eligibility rules before applying. We'll look to update this page whenever new information becomes available.