Disabled bus pass time restrictions to be removed across England
UKPulse News Desk
Disabled people in England will be able to use their free bus passes 24 hours a day from April 2027, following a government announcement to remove current time restrictions.
- From 1 April 2027, national time restrictions on disabled bus passes in England will be removed.
- Currently, passes generally offer free travel between 9:30 am and 11 pm on weekdays, and all day at weekends and bank holidays.
- The Government has allocated £60 million to support this national extension.
Disabled people across England will be able to use their free bus passes 24 hours a day under a significant change to concessionary travel rules. The Government has announced the removal of current time restrictions on disabled bus passes, allowing eligible passengers to travel for free during morning rush hour.
This change is set to come into force on 1 April 2027. The national disabled person's bus pass in England currently typically provides free bus travel between 9:30 am and 11 pm on weekdays, as well as all day on weekends and bank holidays.
The Government stated that the current system can create a postcode lottery, as individual councils are able to fund extensions to the national scheme. The aim of the change is to remove these regional differences and make it easier for disabled people to access work, training, education, and healthcare without paying for early morning journeys.
Why this matters: The removal of morning restrictions could make it easier for disabled people to travel for work, education, training, or medical appointments without incurring costs for journeys before 9:30 am.
What this means for you: If you hold a valid disabled person's concessionary bus pass in England, you will be able to use it for free travel at any time of day from 1 April 2027. If you believe you qualify for a pass but do not have one, you can check eligibility and apply through your local council.