Transport schemes

This page gives information on transport schemes which might be available to people with Parkinson's.

Whether you drive or prefer to use public transport, there are many other transport schemes that can help when you have Parkinson's.

The Hubs Mobility Advice Service (HMAS) helps you to find accessible travel information in England.

Buses and other local transport

By law, the government can make bus companies ensure that disabled people are able to get on and off buses safely and ‘without too much difficulty’ and travel ‘in safety and reasonable comfort’.

Outside of London, local authorities are in charge of public transport. You should contact your local authority to find out more about access to disabled public transport in your area. In Northern Ireland, you should contact the Department of Infrastructure on 028 9054 0540, or by emailing [email protected].

To find out about public transport in London, including disabled access, visit Transport for London's website or call its customer service centre on 0343 222 1234. You can also order the Transport for London tube access guide on this number.

The Motability Scheme

The Motability Scheme allows disabled people to exchange a ‘qualifying benefit’ to lease a car (including cars adapted to carry a driver or passenger seated in their wheelchair), powered wheelchair or mobility scooter.

Qualifying benefits include:

  • the higher-rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance
  • the enhanced-rate of the mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Adult Disability Payment in Scotland
  • War Pensioner’s Mobility Supplement and Armed Forces Independence Payment.

To find out more about Motability, call 0300 456 4566 or visit the Motability website.

Local community transport schemes

Many areas have volunteer-led local community transport schemes in place. Your local authority or council should be able to provide you with further information about schemes in your area.

Rail travel

Passenger assistance

If you’re travelling by rail in England, Scotland and Wales and need assistance because of your Parkinson’s (or any other condition), call National Rail Enquiries on 0800 022 3720 (textphone 0845 60 50 600). They can help you with their Passenger Assist service.

You can also use the Passenger Assistance by Transreport app, which allows you to request assistance via a smartphone. You will receive an email once your request has been booked and confirmed.  

Disabled Persons Railcard

A Disabled Persons Railcard gives you and a companion a third off the cost of most train journeys. You'll need to show that you receive one of the following benefits:

  • Personal Independence Payment (PIP), or Adult Disability Payment in Scotland
  • Disability Living Allowance
  • Attendance Allowance
  • Severe Disablement Allowance
  • War Pensioner's Mobility Supplement
  • War or Service Disablement Pension
  • are buying or leasing a vehicle through the Motability Scheme.

Or you must have one of the following conditions:

  • a visual impairment
  • a hearing impairment
  • epilepsy.

The card costs £20 for one year or £54 for three years. You can get details by visiting the Disabled Persons Railcard website or by calling 0345 605 0525 (textphone 0345 601 0132).

If you're in Northern Ireland, you can apply for a Half Fare SmartPass. Find out more about a Half Fare SmartPass on Translink's website. Application forms are also available at Translink bus and rail stations or call 028 9066 6630.

Concessionary fare schemes

A concessionary fare scheme allows some people to travel on public transport for a reduced fare, or sometimes for free.

Your local authority or council may have a concessionary fare scheme for older and disabled people.

Each nation in the UK sets the minimum that should be available to help pay for travel. Who qualifies as a disabled person for this help also varies between each country in the UK:

  • in England, if you've reached state pension age or you're disabled, you can get free off-peak local bus travel
  • in Northern Ireland, you can travel free on the bus or by rail if you’re aged 60 or over, are registered blind or are a War Disablement pensioner. If you’re under 60, you can travel for half price if you receive the mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP), have had a driving licence refused or revoked on medical grounds, have a recognised learning disability or are partially sighted. To see if you qualify, visit the Translink website.
  • in Scotland, if you’re 60 or over, or are disabled, a National Entitlement Card (NEC) allows you to use national and local buses for free at any time of day. It may also entitle you to discounted rail travel in some areas of Scotland. The card allows companions to travel for free where required by the cardholder. To find out if you qualify, visit the getyournec.scot website.
  • in Wales, if you’re 60 or over, or are disabled, you can travel for free on local buses across Wales, at any time of day. You can also travel for free or at a discounted rate on many Transport for Wales trains. Visit Transport for Wales' website for more information on discounted travel.

Some local authorities and councils may offer more than the minimum to residents. For instance, in London, the Freedom Pass lets older and disabled people travel across London and local bus journeys nationally. Visit the TFL website to find out more, or contact your local authority or council to find out what they offer.

If you’re over 60 or disabled, you may be able to get discounted coach travel. For example, National Express offers both a Senior Coachcard and a Disability Coachcard that offers discounts on fares. You can get more details from the individual coach companies.

Download this information

Download our help with getting around booklet (PDF, 281KB)

We know lots of people would rather have something in their hands to read rather than look at a screen, so you can order printed copies of our information by post, phone or email.