Blue Badge rule change to save Brits £126 on travel from this month | Personal Finance | Finance
Blue Badge holders can save an average of £126 on train travel per year after a new rule came into effect from March 1, 2026. The Disabled Persons Railcard previously covered anyone with epilepsy, hearing or visual impairments, or who claimed certain benefits.
However, the eligibility criteria for the railcard have been expanded, with Blue Badge holders now qualifying for the support. Among those newly eligible to obtain the card also include disabled persons’ bus pass holders, people unable to drive on medical grounds, and people unable to speak.
The Railcard can knock hundreds of pounds off travel, with holders able to secure 33% off train journeys across Great Britain. Despite the extra benefits, the Rail Delivery Group has stressed there are no plans to increase Railcard costs.
It means that a Disabled Persons railcard costs £20 for one year, or £54 for a three-year pass. The Rail Delivery Group says Disabled Persons’ Railcard holders will save an average of £126 per year, equating to around £4.70 per journey.
Holders can also use the card to get discounts on Transport for London (TfL) travelcards for zones 1-9. Oyster pay-as-you-go travel on the London Underground, London Overground, Elizabeth line and London buses will also be reduced.
The update is the first step in a major overhaul of Disabled Persons Railcards, with phase two set to come into effect from September. According to officials, this will further extend eligibility to disabilities and conditions that require professional health evidence and a more detailed assessment.
In particular, this will be extended to those suffering from some long-term or degenerative medical conditions.
Through its Railcards site, National Rail explained: “The new criteria include both simple to assess criteria (for example, whether someone possesses a particular document to evidence their disability) and more complex criteria (such as a long-term medical condition that impacts people’s ability to travel by train).
“We are implementing simpler criteria first, so that passengers can start benefiting from the Disabled Persons Railcard as soon as possible.
“We will implement the more complex criteria in September 2026 to ensure there is a robust assessment process in place where more complex evidence may be required.”
