Thousands of Blue Badge holders get railcard increase and might now save £126
More people will qualify for a Disabled Persons Railcard from today, including Blue Badge users, who can save an average of £126 annually with 1/3 off rail tickets
Full list of Blue Badge parking rules for people travelling in a vehicle as a driver or passenger.(Image: Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
From today, more individuals will be eligible for a Disabled Persons Railcard – this includes Blue Badge holders. The eligibility criteria for the Disabled Persons Railcard is being broadened to encompass a wider variety of both visible and non-visible disabilities.
The Disabled Persons Railcard offers a 1/3 discount on rail tickets, with the average user saving approximately £126 annually. The cost is £20 for a one-year railcard, or £54 for a three-year period.
This discount also extends to one individual aged 16 or over who accompanies you on your journey. From today, the eligibility for a Disabled Persons Railcard is being expanded to include those who:
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- Have a Blue Badge.
- Receive a Disabled Persons Bus Pass in England, Scotland or Wales.
- Receive a London Disabled Persons Freedom Pass.
- Are currently unable to drive on medical grounds.
- Receive Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) benefits.
- Receive Industrial Injuries Benefit for 20% degree of disablement or higher.
- Are without speech.
The previous eligibility criteria still stands – meaning you are still entitled to a Disabled Persons Railcard 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.
- Are registered as having a visual impairment.
- Are registered as deaf or use a hearing aid.
- Have epilepsy and have repeated attacks, even though you receive drug treatment or are currently prohibited from driving because of epilepsy.
- 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.
The broadening of the Disabled Persons Railcard eligibility criteria was initially revealed in November 2025 – and it will be expanded further in September 2026, reports the Mirror. The subsequent expansion later this year will encompass certain long-term or degenerative medical conditions and forms of neurodiversity that significantly affect a person’s ability to travel by train.
Complete details of the evidence requirements and application guidance will be released prior to September. Jacqueline Starr, Executive Chair and CEO at Rail Delivery Group, said: “Widening the eligibility for the Disabled Persons Railcard is an important step forward in helping more people access rail and travel with confidence.
“Working closely with government the industry is committed to building a railway that reflects the needs of the communities we serve today and, in the future, ensuring our network is inclusive, welcoming and supportive for every passenger.” Rail Minister, Lord Hendy, said: “This expansion of the Disabled Persons Railcard marks an important milestone on our journey to a more inclusive railway, making everyday journeys more affordable for thousands more people.
“Whether it’s commuting to work, accessing education, or visiting loved ones, everyone should be able to travel with confidence.
“We are putting accessibility at the heart of our railways through the Accessible Railways Roadmap, which lays the foundations for a longer-term transformation under Great British Railways.”
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