Mayor welcomes all-day bus pass travel for disabled residents

Disabled bus pass holders across Nottingham, Derby, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire will soon be able to travel on buses for free all day, every day. 

The Prime Minister has announced that time restrictions on disabled concessionary bus passes will be removed across England from 1 April 2027. 

What this means 

• Eligible disabled people will be able to travel on local buses for free at any time of day. 

• The change will help people get to work, education, training, healthcare appointments and other opportunities more easily. 

• It will also help with the cost of living by making everyday travel more affordable. 

Currently disabled bus passes can only be used for free travel between 9.30am and 11pm on weekdays, unless local areas choose to offer extra support. 

The Government is investing £60 million to remove these restrictions nationwide, ensuring disabled people can access free bus travel whenever they need it, regardless of where they live. 

The announcement is part of a wider programme to make bus travel more affordable and reliable, including the £2 fare cap, free bus travel for children during the summer, and giving more powers to local leaders to improve bus services. 

For disabled residents, the change could make everyday journeys easier and more affordable, including travelling to work, education, training, healthcare appointments, shops, family, friends and other opportunities. 

Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward said:

“This is great news for disabled people across the East Midlands. From April 2027, extending disabled concessionary bus passes so they can be used all day, every day will give people more flexibility, greater independence and some extra breathing space with the cost of living. 

“Buses are vital for connecting people to work, education, healthcare, appointments and social activities. This change sits alongside wider work to make bus services better, more affordable and more reliable, including the £2 bus fare cap, free summer bus travel for children and giving local leaders more control over their buses. That fits with our ambition at EMCCA to work with partners to improve services across Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.” 

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: 

“Buses are a lifeline for so many people – making it easier to get to work, education and healthcare. It’s simply not right that many disabled people cannot travel using their pass during certain times of the day. So we’re fixing that. Disabled people will now have unlimited free bus travel 24/7.    

“I did it before in Greater Manchester and I’m proud to do it now for the whole country. This is part of our ongoing action to bring back hope and give people some much needed breathing space on the cost of living.” 

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: 

“We’re putting an end to this postcode lottery, so disabled people can travel on buses for free whenever they need, wherever they live – unlocking opportunities and access to jobs, learning, and more. 

“We are making this change because we’ve listened to disabled people, and we know the importance of buses to local communities. These passes are a lifeline for so many, helping them stay connected and get to work and appointments, and it’s only right they receive the same treatment, no matter their postcode.”