Transport and travel

Making journeys as a disabled person can take a bit of extra planning and preparation.

Our research found that nearly half of people with complex disabilities felt that their needs weren’t supported on public transport.

You have the right to extra support so that your travels can be as smooth as possible. 

Find out more about accessible public transport, planning journeys and making complaints. 

On this page:

• Accessible transport: know your rights
  • Travelling with a guide dog
• Rail travel for disabled people
  • Planning an accessible train journey
  • Passenger Assist
  • Travelling by train as a wheelchair user
  • Travelling by train with a mobility scooter
  • Making a complaint about rail travel
• Travelling on the London Underground
• Bus and coach travel for disabled people
  • Getting on a bus as a wheelchair user
• Taxis for disabled people
• Help with travel and transport costs

Accessible transport: know your rights

You have the right to be able to use public transport as a disabled person. 

On the rest of this page, we’ll cover your rights on buses and coaches, taxis and trains.

The Equality Act 2010 says that it is against the law for service providers to discriminate against disabled people. 

This means transport providers should make reasonable adjustments to make sure their services are accessible for disabled people.

On public transport, reasonable adjustments might include:

• Boarding ramps or lifts.
• Free tickets for personal assistants.
• Timetables presented in accessible formats.

Part 12 of the Equality Act 2010 also contains more specific guidance on accessible transport. This legislation applies to buses, coaches, taxis and trains. 

Find out more about the Equality Act 2010 and the law on disability discrimination.

Travelling with a guide dog

It is your right to travel and use public transport in the UK with your assistance dog. 

Find out more about taking public transport with your guide dog. 

Rail travel for disabled people

According to Transport For All, only 13% of disabled people say they use rail travel with confidence. 10% say they don’t take trains at all. 

Barriers to rail travel for disabled people might include:

• The cost of tickets.
• Overcrowding.
• Issues with step-free access.
• Lack of assistance from staff.

All train stations and operators legally must publish and comply with an Accessible Travel Policy.

Each policy will be a bit different, but these are some examples of things they all should include:

• Assistance for disabled passengers should be available at train stations during the hours that trains are due to arrive or depart.
• Alternative transport options should be offered to you at no extra charge if you can’t access a train station.
• You should have the option to buy a train ticket at the station with no extra charge if you were not able to buy your ticket in advance because it was inaccessible. 
• You should receive help with your luggage in the train station (when this has been arranged in advance).

See the full list of the minimum expectations for train stations and operators at GOV.UK.

Planning an accessible train journey

You can use the National Rail website to plan your train journey before you travel. 

This will allow you to check the accessibility of the stations you will visit, including where there is step-free access, and find out more about facilities available on your train.

You can also contact the train company you’ll be travelling with to request more information or assistance on your journey. 

The Hubs Mobility Advice Service also offers free advice about accessible rail travel.

Passenger Assist

For assisted travel on trains, most train companies offer something called Passenger Assist. This allows you to book assistance with your journey up to two hours in advance. 

This service can help you with:

• Boarding or disembarking your train (with ramps if needed).
• Carrying luggage.
• Navigating the station.

You can book help from Passenger Assist by phone, text or online. 

Find out more about Passenger Assist.

Travelling by train as a wheelchair user

Most trains should be able to accommodate a standard size wheelchair (700mm wide by 1200mm long). If your wheelchair is bigger than this, you may need to check whether it will fit onto your train. 

Some older train carriages might only fit wheelchairs up to 550mm wide.

It’s wise to book your wheelchair space before you travel, as there is limited availability. Passenger Assist can help you find a space. 

For planning your journey, National Rail has a map showing accessibility information (including step-free access) for train stations around the UK. 

Wheelchair users and their companions can get discounted train tickets, without any need for a railcard. 

Find out more about discounted train tickets for wheelchair users. 

Travelling by train with a mobility scooter

Most trains will accommodate mobility scooters of the same dimensions as the standard wheelchair (up to 700mm by 1200mm). 

But it’s best to check with your train company before travelling, because each one has its own rules about mobility scooters. 

Some train companies will require you to get a Scooter Pass before travelling with a mobility scooter.

Making a complaint about rail travel

If you have a bad experience while taking the train as a disabled person, you have a right to be heard.

You should start by making a complaint to the rail company you were travelling with. 

If you’re not satisfied with the response you get from them, you can complain to the Rail Ombudsman. 

Travelling on the London Underground

The London Underground and other light rail services around the UK can be difficult to navigate for disabled people. 

According to Transport for All, only 92 out of 272 London Underground stations are wheelchair accessible. 

To plan an accessible journey on the London Underground, there are several apps or websites you can use:

• TfL Go
• Journey Planner
• Citymapper

TfL also has a range of accessibility guides and access maps to help you plan your journey. 

You can get assistance from staff at Tube, Elizabeth Line and Overground stations. You don’t need to book this in advance. 

If you’re a wheelchair user, find out more about step-free access and wheelchair accessible Tube stations.

Bus and coach travel for disabled people

Bus travel is important for disabled people. Government statistics show that disabled people use buses more than non-disabled people. 

Yet many buses and coaches are inaccessible for disabled people. 

To find out more about accessibility of buses and coaches in your area, it’s best to contact the bus/coach company. 

You should also be able to use the company’s own website or app to plan your journey. 

Getting on a bus as a wheelchair user

In most areas of the UK, buses should have wheelchair ramps and spaces. It’s best to check with your local bus operator. 

The law says that bus and coach drivers must give reasonable assistance to disabled people. This means helping you get on and off the bus/coach (without lifting you or heavy equipment). 

This could mean lowering a step or ramp for you to access the bus, and/or helping you with your luggage.

The driver should always give you priority over other passengers using the wheelchair space. For example, if a passenger with a buggy is standing in the wheelchair space, the driver can ask them to move so that you can board. 

Bus drivers should only leave you behind at the bus stop if there is no way they can reasonably fit you on the bus. Otherwise, this is discrimination.

Find out more about disability discrimination.

Taxis for disabled people

You have a right to take taxis as a disabled person. The law says that taxi drivers should not refuse to pick up you because you’re disabled or because you have an assistance dog.

In some areas of the UK – mainly larger cities – licensed taxis have to be wheelchair accessible. 

Your local taxi licensing office can tell you if there are wheelchair accessible taxis in your area. Find out more from your local authority.

If you live in London and you have mobility difficulties, you can apply for a London Taxicard to help with the cost of taxis. 

Outside of London, your local authority might be able to help you with taxi costs if you’re disabled. It depends where you live. 

Find out what’s available from your local council. 

Help with travel and transport costs

Looking for more information about Blue Badges, the Motability Scheme and Disabled Persons Railcards?

Visit our page about help with transport costs for disabled people.

This content was last reviewed in July 2024. We’ll review it again in 2026.