How to Buy a Ticket to Travel

You must hold a valid ticket before travelling on the National Rail network. 

We advise buying your ticket first before you request assistance to ensure you get the best value for money for your journey. 

You can do this through www.nationalrail.co.uk. 

Disabled Persons Railcard Discounts

If you have a disability, you may be eligible for a Disabled Persons Railcard which give 1/3 off train travel.

If you do not have a Railcard, and you are blind or partially sighted and travelling with a companion, or if you use a wheelchair, you can get a discount on Anytime tickets.

More details can be found below.​​​​​​​

Blind or visually Impaired Customers Travelling with a Companion

If you are registered as blind or visually-impaired and are travelling with another person, the concessionary discounts shown below apply for both you and your companion. You cannot get the discount if you are travelling on your own. Discount applies to Adult fares only.

Please provide evidence of your visual impairment such as a document from a recognised institution such as Social Services, your Local Authority, The Royal National Institute of Blind People or Blind Veterans UK (formerly St Dunstan's) when buying your ticket and making your journey.

Tickets can be purchased from staffed National Rail ticket offices only.

Customers with Wheelchairs 

If you need to stay in your own wheelchair during your rail journey the concessionary discounts shown below apply. Discounts are available on adult and child fares. The discounts below apply if you are travelling alone, but are also available to one adult travelling with you.

Tickets can be purchased from staffed National Rail ticket offices only.

Discounts available on adult fares

Class of Travel	Ticket Type	Discount
Standard Class	Anytime Single	34%
Standard Class	Anytime Return	34%
Standard Class	Anytime Day Single	34%
Standard Class	Anytime Day Return	50%
First Class	Anytime Single	34%
First Class	Anytime Return	34%
First Class	Anytime Day Single	34%
First Class	Anytime Day Return	50%

​​​​​​Please note that sometimes it may be cheaper to buy an undiscounted Off-Peak or Advance ticket. 

Season Tickets for Blind or Visually Impaired Customers

If you are blind or visually impaired, an adult Season Ticket allows a companion to travel with you, on National Rail services only, at no extra cost. Travel on services managed by Transport for London (London Underground, DLR, London Buses and London Trams) will not be covered even if the Season Ticket is a Travelcard, or permits travel (such as a cross-London route)  on TfL services for the Season Ticket holder. The companion will need to hold their own ticket for that leg of the journey. 

You must be able to provide evidence of your visual impairment when making your journey, such as a document from one of the following recognised institutions; 

• Social Services
• Department of Work & Pensions
• your Local Authority
• The Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) or,
• Blind Veterans UK (formerly St Dunstan's)

It does not have to be the same person travelling with you on every journey.

Scotland

Scotland has a National Entitlement Card, allowing free and discounted travel within Scotland to Cardholders who are visually impaired or blind.

Cardholders may travel free of charge in Standard Class accommodation (no ticket to be issued) on the following services at any time:-

All train services between stations within Scotland and as far as Carlisle and Berwick upon Tweed, by all operators.

Aberdeenshire Council issue a small number of "Blind Taxicards" to persons who are both blind and physically disabled. These cards will be valid for both local and national journeys.)

Companions

Generally companions are NOT included in this scheme.

However, where a Local Scheme as shown in the following pages includes arrangements for companions this will continue within the area described for each local scheme.

The local authorities who have Companion Schemes are:-

• West Lothian – Flat Fare or 50% discount.
• Fife – 50% discount
• Strathclyde – 50% discount

Companions of East Lothian Council Blind Persons cardholders are entitled to travel within the scheme area at a discounted rate.

Companions of Highland Council Blind Persons cardholders will be entitled to travel at a discounted rate both within Highland and from Highland stations to/from Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Further Information

Contact National Rail Enquiries on 03457 48 49 50, or staff at any National Rail ticket office will be abled to provide more information