New rules that came into force on Wednesday could help more disabled people save money when travelling by train, with eligible passengers saving an average of £126 a year.
From September 30, people with a long-term impairment, health condition or neurodivergence that significantly affects their ability to use rail services will be able to apply for discounted travel under an expansion of the Disabled Persons Railcard eligibility rules.
What the new criteria mean
The health condition or impairment must have lasted, or be expected to last, for at least 12 months and the new criteria will focus on the impact it has on someone's ability to travel by rail rather than simply whether they have a particular diagnosis.
People who qualify for a Disabled Persons Railcard can get one-third off rail fares across Great Britain. The discount also applies to one adult travelling with them.
There are no time restrictions on when the Railcard can be used and it costs £20 for one year or £54 for three years. The Rail Delivery Group (RDG) says holders save £126 a year on average.
Who can qualify under the new rules?
Under the expanded eligibility criteria, applicants whose condition significantly affects their ability to use rail services will need to provide evidence showing how they are affected.
This can be either a report or letter from a health professional explaining the impact their condition has on using rail services, or an impact declaration form signed by a suitably qualified and regulated health or social care professional.
Applications requiring professional evidence will then be independently assessed.
The RDG said that for conditions where the impact varies considerably between individuals, confirmation of a diagnosis alone may not be enough to qualify.
Background to the changes
The changes follow a review carried out by the Rail Delivery Group, Department for Transport and Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee into the barriers disabled passengers face when travelling by train.
Dan Mann, Co-Chief Executive Officer at Rail Delivery Group, said: “Rail connects people to jobs, education, family and communities and we want those connections to be accessible to as many people as possible.
“Expanding eligibility for the Disabled Persons Railcard will help more disabled people who face additional barriers when travelling by train access more affordable journeys.”
Earlier expansion this year
The September 30 change is the latest stage in an expansion of eligibility.
The first changes took effect in March 2026 and allowed a wider group of people to demonstrate their eligibility using existing documentation, including Blue Badge holders and Disabled Persons Bus Pass holders.
The RDG said 154,480 Disabled Persons Railcards have been purchased since those changes, compared with 111,141 during the same period a year earlier — an increase of 39 per cent.
Research carried out as part of the review also found 79 per cent of existing Railcard holders and 73 per cent of non-holders supported including non-visible disabilities within the eligibility criteria.
Rail Minister Lord Hendy said the latest expansion would help “thousands more people access cheaper rail travel”.
People who think they may qualify can apply for the Railcard online, by phone or by post, with full eligibility criteria available on the Railcard website.
