Transport & travel

Six things that make getting around easier, and that parents routinely find out about years later than they should have. Every claim below links to the scheme's own source.

Train travel: the Disabled Persons Railcard and Passenger Assist

A railcard your child can hold from age 5 that discounts your ticket, plus free station assistance you can book up to 2 hours ahead.

Two separate things worth knowing about, often confused: the Disabled Persons Railcard is a paid discount card, and Passenger Assist is a free assistance service. You do not need the railcard to use Passenger Assist.

The Disabled Persons Railcard costs £20 for one year or £54 for three, and gives 1/3 off rail travel for the cardholder and one adult companion.

Children aged 5 to 15 who meet the eligibility criteria can hold one in their own name. The catch worth understanding before you buy: the railcard does not discount child fares. What it does is give one adult travelling with your child 1/3 off most fares -- so for a family, the saving lands on the accompanying parent's ticket, not the child's.

Eligibility runs to roughly 19 different qualifying conditions. The routes most likely to apply to an autistic child:

  • Receiving Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
  • Holding a Blue Badge
  • Having epilepsy

Check the full list before assuming your child doesn't qualify -- it's broader than most people expect, and you'll need to send proof of whichever route you're claiming under.

Passenger Assist is free and separate. Train companies now accept assistance requests up to 2 hours before your journey, at any time of day. Book through the Passenger Assistance by Transreport app or website, or by calling 0800 022 3720. Any train company can arrange assistance for a whole journey, even across multiple operators.

You can also 'turn up and go' without booking -- if you need help at short notice, speak to a member of staff or use a station Help Point on arrival. Booking ahead simply means someone is expecting you.

Is Passenger Assist only for wheelchair users?

No. It covers help getting around a station, being met and guided, and support boarding and changing trains -- which is exactly the kind of help that matters when a busy, loud, unfamiliar station is the hard part rather than the walking. When you book, describe the assistance your child actually needs rather than trying to fit it into a physical-disability template.

Who can help with this

  • Disabled Persons RailcardCovers England, Scotland, Wales

    Railcard giving a third off most rail fares for the cardholder and one adult companion. Children aged 5-15 who are eligible can hold one. Buying a ticket with the Railcard does not book assistance -- that is a separate Passenger Assist request. Covers Great Britain; Northern Ireland has its own separate concession arrangements.

    Website0345 605 0525railcardhelp@nationalrail.co.uk

    Sourced from public research on 2026-08-23 — not independently verified. Source

  • Passenger Assist (National Rail)Covers England, Scotland, Wales

    Free assistance booked in advance for any rail journey in Great Britain -- being met at the station, help changing trains, and staff who know you are coming. Requestable through the Passenger Assistance app or website, or by phone on 08000 223 720. You can also turn up and go without booking and ask staff or use a Help Point on arrival.

    Website08000 223 720

    Sourced from public research on 2026-08-23 — not independently verified. Source

Sources

Scope. The Sunflower, Railcard, Passenger Assist and airport special-assistance sections apply across the UK. Blue Badge fees and administration differ by nation, and the section says which. The bus pass and school transport sections are England only— the bus section summarises the Transport Act 2000 minimum and current off-peak hours as they apply in England (Scotland's own scheme is already unrestricted by time, and the section says so), and the school transport section summarises statutory guidance issued to local authorities in England. Scotland and Northern Ireland run separate systems for both.

Free advice on any transport problem

More transport support

This is general information gathered from the sources linked above, not legal advice, and it isn't a substitute for advice on your child's specific situation. Fees, income thresholds and scheme rules change — check the linked source before relying on a figure.