Disabled person's railcard

There are two types of disabled person's railcard:

  • a one year railcard costing £20
  • a three year railcard costing £54

You can pay by cheque or postal order made payable to 'RSP Ltd (DPRC)'.  If you want to pay by debit or credit card please call South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive on (01142) 2767575 for further information.

Benefits of a railcard

  • It gives you one third off adult fares when you travel on the National Rail network in Great Britain
  • It gives a friend travelling with you one third off their rail fair so they save money too
  • You can use your railcard any time

There’s more information about the railcard discounts and restrictions on the disabled person’s railcard website.

Check whether you qualify for a railcard

You’ll qualify if you:

  • receive Personal Independence Payments (PIP)
  • receive Disability Living Allowance (DLA)  
    • at 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 or Severe Disablement Allowance
  • receive long-term Incapacity Benefit
  • receive War Pensioner's Mobility Supplement
  • receive War or Service Disablement Pension for 80% or more disability 
  • buy or lease a vehicle through the Mobility scheme.

You must provide evidence that you meet the criteria to prove that you’re eligible. Details of what you need to provide are listed on the Disabled Person’s Railcard website.

Five to 16 year-olds may also qualify for a disabled person's railcard if they can meet at least one of the above conditions. This doesn't save the child money (the usual child discount of 50% is a much better rate) but it does give a third off the standard fare to an adult travelling with them.

How to apply for a railcard

Post your completed application form together with your evidence documents to:
Disabled Person's Railcard, PO Box 6613, Arbroath, DD11 9AN.

If you are applying in person, please bring original documents with you as proof of eligibility.

When you’ll receive your railcard

If you’ve met the criteria and provided all the required evidence, you’ll receive your railcard, together with any original documents you supplied, usually within 15 working days.

Using your railcard

You must show your valid railcard when you are buying your tickets, and if you are buying tickets for an accompanying adult.  Many of the train companies will allow you to reserve your seats free of charge on long distance journeys.

You must also have your railcard with you when you show your tickets to members of staff when you travel.

If you can’t show your valid railcard, you and your accompanying adult will have to pay the full fare.

If you don’t use your railcard, you won’t be able to claim a refund.

Renewing a railcard

We’ll try to send you a reminder and a renewal form a few weeks before your railcard expires. Make sure you renew it in good time because a railcard that has expired is not valid for use.

If your railcard gets lost, damaged or stolen:

You should contact the Disabled Person's Railcard office. There is a £5 administration fee to replace a lost or damaged railcard. To prove your railcard has been stolen, you must have a police crime reference number or documentation.

If you don’t qualify for a disabled person’s railcard

If you don’t qualify, you may qualify for one of the following:

  • a senior railcard (if you are 60 or over)
  • a young person's railcard (if you’re aged 16 to 25 or if you’re a mature student)
  • a family railcard (if you travel with children)

If you need help

  • Call us: (01226) 773555
  • Call Disabled Person's Railcard application helpline: 0345 605 0525 
  • Call using a textphone/Minicom: 0345 601 0132

Useful websites