In Scotland, all people with a disability, and those aged 60 and over are entitled to a National Entitlement Card.
Depending on people’s circumstances, and the region in which they live, this Entitlement Card can give access to a concessionary fare, or free train travel.
Cardholders who are visually impaired or blind are entitled to free rail travel in standard class within Scotland. There are no time restrictions in place so journeys may be taken at any time, seven days a week between any stations in Scotland and as far as Carlisle and Berwick-upon-Tweed. Your National Entitlement Card is valid on all rail services within Scotland, not just those operated by ScotRail.
As a holder of a Blind Persons or Blind Person Companion National Entitlement Card, you do not need a separate ticket to travel.
If you’re travelling from a station with ticket barriers, a member of the station staff will help you onto/ off the platform.
If your station doesn’t have ticket barriers, simply board the train and show your Entitlement card to the member of staff on board.
Travelling with a companion?
In general, a companion is not included in this scheme. However, there are exceptions in some areas to this.
A few local authorities do have companion schemes in place. These are:
- Fife – 50% discount
- Strathclyde – 50% discount
- East Lothian Council Blind Persons cardholders – companions are entitled to a discounted rate for travel within the scheme area.
- Highland Council Blind Persons cardholders – companions are entitled to travel within Highland and from Highland stations to/from Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh for a discounted rate.
Assistance when travelling
If you need assistance when travelling, we are always happy to help. Everything you need to know about prebooking assistance can be found on our Accessible Travel page here .
You don’t have to prebook assistance and can ask for help once in a station or by using a station Help Point.
Residents with a disability, and people aged 60 and over, who permanently live within the Strathclyde region can enjoy a concessionary fare for rail travel between two stations within the scheme’s boundaries.
If you need to start or end your journey outside the boundaries, you are not eligible for the concessionary fare and a full price ticket must be purchased.
Time restrictions
- Fare reductions are not available for travel on weekdays between 06:00 and 09:00, or between 16:30 and 18:00.
- However, if you are travelling to/ from Maybole, Girvan and Barrhill on direct services, there is no evening time restriction.
- There are no time restrictions on a weekend or on national public holidays.
Travelling to a hospital appointment?
- If you are travelling to a hospital appointment and need to travel within the restricted time period, take along an appointment card or other clear written evidence and show this when you buy your ticket, and also when you travel, to get a reduced-price ticket.
Time restrictions
There are no time restrictions for those with a National Entitlement Card for people with disabilities. Discounted travel can be undertaken at any time, seven days a week.
Companion travel
If your National Entitlement Card is marked with both an ‘S’ and ‘+1’ then you are entitled to have someone travel with you at a reduced price on the same journey. Your companion must start and end their journey at the same stations as yourself. The companion will be charged half the standard or return fare, except where the concession fare is higher than the standard fare. In this case, the companion would be charged the concession fare too.
Concessionary Fare
For journeys of less than approximately 10 miles, a flat fare of £1 single, and £1.50 return will be charged.
For journeys over 10 miles, a 50% discount will be given on selected ticket types.
How to buy your Concessionary Fare
A Concessionary Fare can only be purchased in person from a booking office, or on board the train if no ticket office is available. Concessions cannot be purchased online or from a ticket vending machine. You must show your National Entitlement Card when you purchase your ticket, and also have it on you when you travel.
FAQs
Your NEC card will have an ‘S’ on it, next to the council logo.
If your National Entitlement Card shows an ‘S’ and ‘+1’ then someone travelling with you on the same journey can obtain
No, your discount is only valid when your journey starts and finishes at stations with the Strathclyde scheme boundaries. The scheme area map can be found on the SPT website under the ‘Further Information’ dropdown.
No. You are the only person allowed to use your card to obtain a cheap fare. Allowing someone else to use your card is classed as fraud.
No. To be eligible for the companion fare, they must start and end their journey at the same stations as yourself.
Residents with a disability and people aged 60 and over who permanently live within the Fife Council area can enjoy a concessionary fare when they travel between any two stations in Fife.
The journey must start and end within the county to be eligible for the concessionary fare, otherwise a full price ticket must be purchased.
Eligible stations to start and end your journey:
Aberdour, Burntisland, Cardenden, Cowdenbeath, Cupar, Dalgety Bay, Dunfermline Queen Margaret, Dunfermline Town, Glenrothes, Inverkeithing, Kinghorn, Kirkcaldy, Ladybank, Leuchars, Lochgelly, Markinch, North Queensferry, Rosyth and Springfield.
Time restrictions
- A concessionary fare is not available for travel on weekdays before 9:15am.
- There are no time restrictions on a weekend or on national public holidays.
How to buy your Concessionary Fare
Tickets cannot be purchased in advance and should be bought before you board the train. To buy your Concessionary Fare you must show your National Entitlement Card at the ScotRail booking office, and also have it to hand when you travel.
Concessionary tickets can only be issued on the train if you board at an unstaffed station, or where the booking office is closed. On-train staff are otherwise obliged to charge the full standard fare if a ticket is not purchased before boarding.
A single fare costs £1, and a return fare is £2.
For people with a disability living in the Highland Council region, if your National Entitlement Card has a ‘+1’ symbol on it then you’re entitled to a Concessionary Fare when you travel within the region.
You are entitled to the Concessionary Fare whether you travel with your companion or on your own.
When you show your National Entitlement Card with the ‘+1’ you will receive a 50% discount on the following ticket types:
- Standard Day Single
- Standard Day Return
- SVR
- CDR
Area for travel
The Concessionary Fare is valid for travel within the Highland area only. This is classed as the area bounded by Wick, Thurso, Kyle of Lochalsh, Nairn, Dalwhinnie and Mallaig to Corrour.
How to buy your Concessionary Fare
Tickets cannot be purchased in advance and should be bought before you board the train. To buy your Concessionary Fare you must show your National Entitlement Card at the ScotRail booking office, and also have it to hand when you travel.
Concessionary tickets can only be issued on the train if you board at an unstaffed station, or where the booking office is closed. On-train staff are otherwise obliged to charge the full standard fare if a ticket is not purchased before boarding.
Concessionary travel passes and schemes are managed by local councils and are subject to change.
Here are some useful links to help you find out more about National Entitlement cards and local concessionary schemes.