Let your friends in on some epic savings
There's great value to be had travelling around Britain with a Disabled Persons Railcard. You'll see some amazing places and save money too. So why not tell your family and friends that they may be able to save1/3 on rail travel with a Railcard? Simply fill in your family or friend's contact details, and we'll send them an email telling them about the Railcards that are available.
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Can I reserve a seat or seats if booking a ticket or tickets in advance?
Yes, many of the train companies allow you to reserve a seat free of charge on long distance journeys. If an accompanying adult is travelling with you, then you will need to reserve two seats.
Does buying a ticket with my Railcard make the train company aware that I will need assistance?
No. If you require assistance to get on or off your train then you must book it. If you are buying a ticket at a station or on the telephone to a train company then the person helping you should be able to help book assistance for you. If you are booking online however, it is likely that you will need to arrange assistance with the train company with whom you are travelling. Our Travelling by rail page has the contact details for each train company's Assisted Travel Service.
Will I have to pay the full fare if I forget to bring my Railcard when I travel?
Yes. You must show your valid Railcard when you are buying your tickets. You must also have your Railcard with you when you show your tickets to members of staff when you travel. If you cannot show your valid Railcard, then you and any accompanying adult will have to pay the full fare.
Can I use my Railcard for tickets on the London Underground?
Discounted rail tickets (purchased with your Railcard) which involve a cross-London journey are valid for travel on the London Underground.
Disabled Persons Railcard holders can also get 1/3 off London Zones 1-6 Off-Peak Day Travelcards (subject to a minimum fare) that allow you to travel around London by train, Underground, buses, Docklands Light Railway (DLR) and London Tramlink.
Better still, Railcard holders can register their Railcard discount on an Oyster card to get 1/3 off Oyster Off-Peak pay as you go fares on journeys that include travel on National Rail services, and a discount on the Oyster Off-Peak pay as you go daily price cap.
Transport for London use daily price capping to limit what Oyster pay as you go users will be charged each day when they travel on National Rail, Underground, DLR, Tramlink and bus services. The price cap guarantees Oyster pay as you go users are always charged the lowest fare, making Oyster pay as you go even cheaper than using a Travelcard. For more information on Oyster pay as you go daily price capping see the Transport for London website.
To benefit from this great discount, you will need to get an Oyster card, register it in your name and have your Railcard discount concession loaded on it. This can be done at:
• Tube station ticket offices
• London Overground station ticket offices
• Some National Rail station ticket offices
Don't forget that if you are resident within the Greater London area and are disabled or aged 60 or above, you are eligible for a Freedom Pass. This gives you free travel at any time on buses, Underground, DLR, Tramlink and London Overground services and at certain times on most National Rail services within the London Travel Zones. See the Transport for London website for more details.
Can I use my Railcard on Eurostar services?
No. Eurostar does not provide domestic rail services in Great Britain and so (unlike domestic train operating companies) it is not required to accept Railcards as part of its franchise to operate services. Eurostar does, however, give discounts to customers who have to remain in a wheelchair for the duration of the journey. For more information, see the Eurostar website.
Can I use the Railcard in Northern Ireland or Eire?
The Disabled Persons Railcard can only be used for discounts on the National Rail network in Great Britain, that is England, Scotland and Wales. It cannot be used on the Irish mainland, neither in Northern Ireland nor Ireland.
Residents of Northern Ireland (being eligible to receive UK benefits) can apply for the Railcard to use when they travel in Scotland, Wales or England.
With regard to concessionary travel schemes on the Irish mainland:
Northern Ireland: see www.translink.co.uk
Eire: There is a domestic scheme of free travel for people with disabilities that is only available to Irish citizens who normally reside in the Republic of Ireland. There is also an All Ireland Free Travel Pass and this is available to people over the age of 66. This scheme is operated by the Department of Social and Family Affairs. See www.irishrail.ie for other related information.
Can I use the Disabled Persons Railcard to get discounts on Season tickets?
No. Railcards cannot be used to get discounts on Season tickets as they are already heavily discounted tickets. For example, most weekly Season tickets give you seven days travel for the price of five days and most Annual Season tickets give you 52 weeks of travel for the price of 40 weeks.
Renew Online
It is easy to renew your Railcard. Our online service is safe and secure, and we aim to deliver your Railcard to your door within five working days.
