Transport: Freedom Passes and railcards

The travel pass for disabled people which allows free travel across London and free bus journeys nationally

To be eligible for a disabled persons Freedom Pass:

  • Your sole or principal residence in London

And

  • Have any of the statutory disabilities listed in the Transport Act 2000.

Residency
Your London home needs to be your 'sole' or 'principal' residence, which means you live there the majority of the time. You need to be able to provide proof of where you live. Check what proof is acceptable

If you are not sure whether you live in a London borough, or are uncertain which borough you live in, enter your postcode into the postcode checker.

If you work or study in London, but do not live in London, you will not be eligible for a Freedom Pass.

If you move out of London you are no longer eligible for a Freedom Pass. You may be eligible for a concessionary fares pass from your new local authority, which will still allow you to travel free on Transport For London buses.

If you are under 18 and making a disabled persons Freedom Pass application, we understand you may find it difficult to prove your residency. If this applies to you please contact your local council who will be able to assist. You can find your local councils contact number here: https://www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/services/freedom-pass/disabled-persons-freedom-pass/apply

Disability
The statutory disabilities which make someone eligible for a disabled persons Freedom Pass are:

1) People who are blind or partially sighted

2) People who are profoundly or severely deaf

3) People without speech

4) People who have a disability, or have suffered an injury, which has left them with a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to walk

5) People who do not have arms or have a long-term loss of the use of both arms

6) People who have a learning disability that is defined as 'a state of arrested or incomplete development of mind which includes significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning'

7) People who, if they applied for the grant of a licence to drive a motor vehicle under Part III of the Road Traffic Act 1988, would have their application refused pursuant to section 92 of the Act (physical fitness) otherwise than on the ground of persistent misuse of drugs or alcohol.

London boroughs may, at their discretion under exceptional circumstances, issue Freedom Passes to disabled people that do not meet one of the statutory eligibility criteria. For more information go to our discretionary Freedom Pass page

If you are the holder of a Disabled Person's Freedom Pass but your circumstances change, which mean you are no longer eligible for the scheme, your pass may be stopped before the card's expiry date.

Carers
Carers of someone with a disability are not eligible for a Freedom Pass.

A Freedom Pass holder who finds it too difficult to travel without assistance using public transport may be eligible for the Taxicard scheme, which is also managed by London Councils.

This service provides subsidised trips in licensed taxis and private hire vehicles for people with serious mobility problems.

Application forms are available by telephoning 020 7934 9791 or emailing Taxicard@londoncouncils.gov.uk

If you believe you fulfil the eligible criteria and are entitled to a Disabled Persons Freedom Pass you need to contact the City of London (or your borough, if you are based elsewhere) for an application form. 

To apply for a Disabled Persons Freedom Pass, please contact the Adult Social Care Team on 020 7332 1224 or email the Adult Social Care Team.

You will be asked to provide evidence of your eligibility and a colour passport sized photograph, and you may be asked to provide further documentation.

Once your application has been assessed and your eligibility has been confirmed, your Freedom Pass will go into production and will be posted to you by second class post.​

You can find contact details for other boroughs here.

You can use your pass on the following services

Buses
24 hour free travel on all buses in the London Transport network.

Outside of London, national pass holders are able to travel free between 9:30 am and 11:pm Monday to Friday, all day at weekends and on public holidays. You will need to show your freedom pass and photocard to the bus driver.

A freedom pass is only valid outside London if it has a red rose logo, and a security hologram. The pass is not valid on tram, light rail, metro or train services outside London.

A minority of disabled passes are issued at the discretion of the council and so under government legislation are not valid for use outside London. These do not have the red rose logo and security hologram.

Railways
Free travel on most local rail services, between 9.30 am and 4.30 am the following morning Monday to Friday, plus all day at weekends and on public holidays. See the freedom pass travel map for further details.

The freedom pass is NOT valid for travel on train services operated by Arriva CrossCountry, Grand Central, Hull Trains, East Midlands Trains, Gatwick Express, National Express East Coast, Virgin Trains, and Heathrow Express, or on Heathrow Connect between Hayes & Harlington and Heathrow.

For travel beyond the freedom pass area you must buy a separate extension ticket before you travel. Please show your freedom pass at the ticket office when buying tickets. Holders of Senior and Disabled Persons Railcards may be able to obtain a discount on the price of extension tickets.

Trams
The freedom pass is accepted 24 hours a day, every day

Boats
Freedom pass holders can get a 50 percent discount on many Thames river boat services. Please call TFL on the number below for further details. The Woolwich ferry is free to all users at all times.

Tel: 020 7222 1234

For information about how to use the pass, please visit the London Councils website: Disabled persons Freedom Pass | London Councils

Your Freedom Pass is valid on most other bus services in England and has the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) 'Rose' printed on it to show this.

This means you can use your pass on most local services around the country. Your pass will be valid Monday-Friday 9:30am - 11pm and anytime at weekends and on public holidays.

You cannot use it on:

  • services where most seats can be reserved, like coaches
  • services which run for less than 6 weeks, like shuttle buses to special events
  • for tourists, like open-top bus tours
  • services which are running instead of a train outside of London, known as ‘rail replacement’ services
  • services in Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales
  • most Park & Ride services

The Freedom Pass is not valid on most intercity coach services and is not valid in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, or on tram or National Rail services outside London.

We strongly advise you to contact the bus operating company before you travel to check the validity of your pass if you are at all uncertain.

Eligibility
If you are disabled or have a progressive medical condition you are eligible for the Disabled Persons Railcard if you:

  • receive Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Adult Disability Payment (ADP)
  • receive Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Child Disability Payment (CDP) at either:
    • the higher or lower rate for the mobility component, or
    • the higher or middle rate for the care component
  • have a visual impairment
  • have a hearing impairment
  • have epilepsy
  • receive Attendance Allowance, Severe Disablement Allowance or Pension Age Disability Payment (PADP)
  • 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

Applying for a Disabled Persons Railcard
Once you know you are eligible for the Disabled Persons Railcard, there are 2 ways you can get one:

  1. Online
  2. By Post

Applying online
You can apply online to get a physical or a digital Railcard.

Before applying online, make sure you have everything listed below:

  • Your device with the Railcard App installed if you want to get a digital Railcard.
  • A passport-style photo of you saved on your device or computer.
  • Proof of eligibility.
  • A valid debit/credit card.

If you are applying for a Digital Railcard
Please allow up to 5 working days for your Railcard application to be approved. Once approved, you will receive a download code. Once you have your download code go to the Railcard App, tap the ‘+’ button on the top left of the screen and enter your code.

Please visit the FAQ page for more information.

If you’re applying for a physical Railcard online
Please allow a total of 10 working days for your application to be reviewed and for the Railcard to be delivered by post.

If you prefer to apply for a Disabled Persons Railcard via post you can download and complete the application form and post it with a copy of your evidence of eligibility and payment to:

National Railcards
PO box 8626
SWADLINCOTE
DE11 1JA

Please make cheques and postal orders payable to 'ATOC Ltd Railcard' Allow 15 working days* for your Railcard to be delivered.

Download a large print version of the application form or DPRC application form.

For more information:

  • See our Frequently Asked Questions page
  • Email National Rail at railcardhelp@nationalrail.co.uk
  • Call National Rail: 0345 605 0525 (7 am - 10 pm Monday to Sunday everyday except Christmas Day. Calls cost no more than calls to geographic numbers (01 or 02) and may be recorded for training and monitoring purposes.)
  • For customers with hearing impairments - Minicom/textphone: 0345 601 0132

What is a learning disability?
Visit Mencap's website to hear from people with a learning disability, read their definition and learn about diagnosis.

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