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The Government has announced a change to concessionary bus travel for disabled people in England, removing the existing time restrictions on disabled persons’ bus passes.
From 1 April 2027, eligible disabled people will be able to travel by local bus free of charge at any time of day, seven days a week.
The change is intended to make public transport more accessible, while helping disabled people access work, education, training, healthcare and other opportunities without being restricted by the current concessionary travel hours.
Read the Government’s announcement.
What are the current rules?
Under the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS), eligible disabled people can currently receive a concessionary bus pass providing free travel on eligible local bus services across England.
The statutory minimum concession currently applies from 9.30 to 23:00 on weekdays, with free travel available throughout weekends and on bank holidays. Local authorities can choose to provide additional concessions, including extending free travel to journeys made before 9.30.
This means that, although a disabled person may hold a concessionary bus pass, they may currently have to pay for a journey made during the morning peak unless their local authority has introduced an enhanced scheme.
What is changing from April 2027?
From 1 April 2027, the time restrictions will be removed from the statutory concession for eligible disabled people across England.
This means qualifying disabled bus pass holders will be able to use their passes for free 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The Government says the change will help remove barriers to employment, education and training, as well as making it easier for disabled people to access healthcare and other services.
The policy is backed by £60 million of funding, comprising £40 million from the Department for Work and Pensions and £20 million from the Department for Transport.
Who will be eligible?
The change applies to people who are already eligible for a disabled person’s concessionary bus pass under the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS). The Government’s guidance sets out the categories of disabled people who qualify and how local authorities assess eligibility. Read the Government’s guidance on eligibility.
The statutory eligibility criteria cover a number of categories of disability. These include people who are:
- blind or partially sighted;
- profoundly or severely deaf;
- without speech;
- unable to walk, or virtually unable to walk;
- without the use of both arms;
- have a learning disability; or
- have been refused a driving licence because of a medical condition.
Eligibility is assessed by the relevant local authority, which is responsible for administering the scheme.
What does this mean for bus operators?
For bus operators, the change will mean that concessionary journeys made by eligible disabled passengers during previously restricted hours will become part of the national concessionary travel arrangements.
Under the ENCTS, Travel Concession Authorities (TCAs) are responsible for reimbursing bus operators for eligible concessionary journeys passholders.
The removal of the time restriction represents a change not only for passengers but also for the operation and administration of the concessionary travel scheme.
Operators may wish to consider the potential impact on passenger numbers, ticketing systems and operational planning ahead of the implementation date.
Why is the government making the change?
The government has positioned the policy as both an accessibility measure and part of its wider plans to make bus travel more affordable.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said that buses are a “lifeline” for many people and argued that disabled people should not be prevented from using their concessionary pass because of the time of day.
The government also says that removing the restrictions will make it easier for disabled people to travel to work, education, training and healthcare, while reducing the financial barrier associated with travelling during peak hours.
The policy follows a similar approach already introduced in Greater Manchester, where disabled concessionary passholders have benefited from extended free travel.
What happens between now and April 2027?
The new entitlement does not begin immediately.
Until 31 March 2027, the existing national statutory concession remains in place. This means the standard national entitlement continues to provide free local bus travel between 9.30am and 11pm on weekdays and throughout weekends and bank holidays, subject to any enhanced local arrangements.
From 1 April 2027, the new 24/7 entitlement is due to apply across England.
This gives local authorities, bus operators and other organisations time to prepare for the change.
Operators should keep developments under review and ensure they understand how the revised concessionary travel arrangements will apply to their services.